France called on Tuesday the political forces in Tunisia to engage in a comprehensive dialogue and preserve democratic gains, while Tunisian President Kais Saied affirmed his refusal to interfere in his country's internal affairs "in any form."
"France expresses its concern over the recent developments in Tunisia, and its hope that state institutions will return to their previous activities as soon as possible so that they are able to find solutions to the economic and social situation that the country is going through," said Anne-Clair Legendre, spokeswoman for the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
During a press conference in Paris, which was conveyed by the French Embassy in Tunisia on its website, the French Minister expressed Paris' full respect for Tunisian sovereignty.
And last Wednesday, the Tunisian parliament approved - in a virtual session - a law that cancels the exceptional measures initiated by the country's president, Kais Saied, on July 25, including freezing the parliament's competencies, issuing legislation with presidential decrees, and dissolving the Supreme Judicial Council.
Hours later, Saeed announced - in a televised speech - the dissolution of parliament in order to preserve the state and its institutions, indicating that the parliament meeting and what came out of it was a failed coup attempt.
A blow to the will of the people
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in turn, said yesterday that the dissolution of the elected parliament in Tunisia constitutes a blow to the will of the Tunisian people.
In a press statement issued by the Turkish President, Erdogan hoped that these developments would not harm the ongoing transitional phase towards establishing democratic legitimacy in Tunisia.
The Turkish president stressed that his country "will continue to stand by Tunisia and its brotherly and friendly people at this critical stage."
In return for these international calls, the Tunisian president affirmed his adherence to his refusal to interfere in the internal affairs of his country in any way.
The Tunisian President directed - during his meeting today, Tuesday at Carthage Palace, with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Tunisians Abroad Othman Al-Jarandi - the necessity of strengthening Tunisia's relations with brotherly and friendly countries within the framework of mutual respect and common interest.
On the other hand, the Tunisian president awarded the US ambassador to Tunisia Donald Bloom the Order of the Republic, first class, on the occasion of the end of his tenure in Tunisia.