Tunisia: President Kaïs Saïed back on the ground, after a noticeable absence
[Illustrative image] Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed, February 18, 2023. © AP/Johanna Geron
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
On April 6, 2023, Kaïs Saïed made a trip to Monastir, on the occasion of the twenty-three years of the death of the father of Tunisian independence, Habib Bourguiba. The Tunisian president – whose recent absence for twelve days had raised questions – took the opportunity to show that he remained master on board. The head of state notably mentioned the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for a new round of loans.
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With our correspondent in Tunis, Amira Souilem
The Tunisian president is back on the ground. Kaïs Saïed had raised questions in his country recently. For twelve days he had not appeared in public. Already on April 3, the head of state had put an end to speculation about his health by speaking from the palace of Carthage.
► READ ALSO: President Kaïs Saïed reappears and castigates those who speculate on his absence
And on April 6, during a trip on the occasion of the twenty-three years of the death of the father of Tunisian independence Habib Bourguiba, the current president wanted to show that he remained master on board.
Straight, his step assured and his voice visibly cleared since his last speech, Kaïs Saïed made the trip to Monastir, a little more than two hours south of Tunis.
While his absence cast doubt on his state of health, the Tunisian president – something quite rare – answered some questions from journalists.
« I'm not ready to hand over power to unpatriots »
This trip to the mausoleum of Habib Bourguiba was above all an opportunity for him to show that he was more than ever at the helm of his country. "I'm interested in my nation," he said. And I'm not ready to hand over power to unpatriots ».
The Tunisian president reiterated his traditional grievances against his opponents, journalists but also abroad. In particular, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with which Tunisia has begun negotiations for a new round of loans. "As far as the IMF is concerned, injunctions from abroad that create more impoverishment are not acceptable," he added. We have to rely on ourselves ».
A speech that comes at a time when concerns are multiplying internationally. Two weeks ago, Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, warned of a possible "collapse" of Tunisia if the agreement with the IMF was not signed.
► Read also: in Tunisia, a few hundred people march in support of President Kaïs Saïed
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- Tunisia
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