Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) Secretary-General Noureddine Taboubi said that the authorities' policy of intimidation and restrictions on union work will not deter it from playing its national role, while Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar said that "there is no truth to a dictatorial trend in Tunisia."

Taboubi said, in a speech in the capital Tunis, on Monday, on the occasion of International Workers' Day, that the organization will not yield to any unpopular policies that contradict the interest of the homeland and the people, as he put it.

In the same context, Taboubi blamed the authorities for the intensification of the crisis in the country due to what he considered "the imbalance between the authorities".

He renewed his criticism of the political authority led by President Kais Saied with broad powers since he dissolved parliament and abolished most of the pre-2021 constitutional institutions, and drafted a new constitution and alternative institutions.

"The crisis has intensified because of the imbalance between the authorities, the result of exclusivity of opinion, the imposition of a fait accompli and the marginalisation of national forces and civil society," al-Taboubi said.

The union had initially supported President Saied's decisions on July 25, 2021, but later objected to his uniqueness in the country's fateful decisions and his rejection of a national dialogue involving the opposition and national organizations.

Tensions between Tunisia's traditionally influential trade union organization and President Saied have increased after authorities months ago prevented international trade unionists from participating in Tunisian workers' gatherings as part of protest movements.

"Difficult situation"

"What we really regret is the recent repression of union officials," Taboubi said.

According to the dpa news agency, the country is experiencing a stifling economic and financial crisis accompanied by record waves of legal and illegal immigration.

A $1.9 billion government-IMF loan program deal stalled due to disagreements over the list of needed reforms, first of all the subsidy system.

The Union objects to this point and the announced plans to reform troubled public institutions.

For his part, Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar said on Monday that "there is no truth to a dictatorial trend in Tunisia."

In an interview with the official Tunisian News Agency, Ammar said that "the current situation in Tunisia is difficult on all fronts and Tunisians know this very well, so we must inform Western public opinion and our partners about the specifics and details of this situation."

"There is no truth to a dictatorial trend in Tunisia, and Tunisians are not waiting for anyone to defend their freedoms, and if they consider that they are threatened, they will take to the streets of their own free will to defend their freedoms," he added.