Tunisian President Kais Saied reiterated that his country will not accept any external interference in its affairs again. This comes at a time when his supporters demonstrated in the Tunisian capital, in support of him on the occasion of Independence Day. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed the bloc's concern over the deteriorating political and economic situation in Tunisia, and fears its collapse.
The Tunisian president added – during his visit to the state of Kairouan (center of the country) on Monday – that Tunisia will not give up its sovereignty to anyone, because it is not under protection or mandate, as he put it. This appears to be in response to mounting Western criticism of developments in Tunisia.
Saied, who was elected in 2019, took control of most of the country's powers in 2021, after dissolving the elected parliament and changing the government, before moving to rule by decree and drafting a new constitution.
Meanwhile, the July 25 Movement, which supports President Kais Saied, held a demonstration in Tunis on the occasion of Independence Day and expressed its support for the president in his current political path.
Hundreds of supporters of the president gathered in the capital on Monday to express their support for him after a campaign to arrest opponents on suspicion of treason and corruption, and to reject what they described as foreign interference.
During the demonstration, participants raised slogans against what they called foreign interference in the country's affairs, praising the president's steps in this regard.
For its part, Ennahda affirmed the continuation of its peaceful struggle to confront the policies of the authority "violating public and individual freedoms", calling for the release of all political prisoners opposed to the policies of President Kais Saied.
This came in a statement issued by the movement, on the occasion of Tunisia's commemoration of the 67th anniversary of Independence Day from the French occupation, which falls on March 20 every year.
Ennahda said that the revolution of January 14, 2011, promoted the achievement of independence by establishing democracy, strengthened the sovereignty of the people and the rule of law and institutions, and called for the release of all political detainees "who were subjected to oppression and abuse, and fabricated false charges against them because of their positions rejecting the coup," referring to exceptional measures announced by Saied on July 25, 2021.
Ennahda pointed out that its peaceful and tireless struggle with national forces, foremost of which is the National Salvation Front, continues to confront the policies of the authority.
Josep Borrell: The European Union cannot help a country that is unable to sign an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (Anatolia)
European fears of collapse
Amid the successive developments in Tunisia, the European Union's foreign policy chief said on Monday that the bloc is concerned about the deteriorating political and economic situation in Tunisia and fears its collapse.
Borrell warned after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels that "the situation in Tunisia is very serious."
"If Tunisia collapses, it threatens to influx migrants into the EU and cause instability in the Middle East and North Africa. We want to avoid this situation."
He said the foreign ministers had asked Belgium and Portugal to send representatives on mission to Tunisia to conduct "an assessment of the situation to enable the EU to guide its actions".
But he added that "the EU cannot help a country that is unable to sign an agreement with the IMF."
He stressed that "President Kais Saied must sign an agreement with the IMF and implement it, otherwise the situation will be very dangerous for Tunisia."
The European Union's foreign policy chief pointed out that the situation in Tunisia is very bad economically and politically, noting that political instability in the country affects the economic situation in it.
Borrell said – before the start of the meeting – that the meeting will discuss what he called "unacceptable" statements issued by Tunisian President Kais Saied towards African nationalities, pointing out that he may travel to Tunisia if necessary.
For his part, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States will continue to support what he called the aspirations of the Tunisian people for a democratic and prosperous future and support ongoing efforts to protect human rights and the rule of law as the foundation of a just and equitable society.
In recent weeks, Tunisian police have launched an arrest campaign, including prominent opposition leaders who accuse Saied of a "coup", and arrested politicians, judges, trade unionists, prominent businessmen and the head of an independent radio station.
Opposition forces accuse President Saied of establishing an authoritarian autocracy, while Saied says those he describes as "corrupt and criminals" must be held accountable.
Last Thursday, the European Parliament adopted a resolution urging the Tunisian authorities to release all those detained as part of the crackdown on the opposition.
During a session at the headquarters of the European Parliament in the French city of Strasbourg, European lawmakers voted in favor of the resolution, which calls on the Tunisian authorities to put an end to the trial of civilians before military courts.