The two men spoke this Saturday, reports the Elysée, a week following a demonstration of opponents brutally repressed in Tunis. Emmanuel Macron asked his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied to lead an “inclusive” transition and the two leaders “discussed the situation in Tunisia”.
The French president “welcomed the announcement of the transition timetable and encouraged President Saied to carry out the transition in the most inclusive framework possible”, details the Elysée, which specifies that the Tunisian president “has undertaken to respect the rule of law and democratic freedoms”.
Since July 25, 2021, arguing of multiple blockages, Kais Saied has assumed full powers by suspending Parliament, dominated by the Islamist-inspired party Ennahdha, his pet peeve. Since then, he has governed by decree despite protests from opponents and national and international NGOs.
For a reform program
On December 13, the Tunisian unveiled a roadmap to get out of the political crisis with a legislative election scheduled for December 2022, following revision of the electoral law, and a referendum in July 2022 to amend the Constitution, which he wants more “presidential”, at the expense of Parliament.
On January 14, in scenes of violence that had not been seen in Tunis for ten years, the police charged the demonstrators with large reinforcements of water cannons and tear gas, and carried out dozens of arrests muscular.
According to the Élysée, Emmanuel Macron “also encouraged the Tunisian president to put in place a program of reforms necessary to deal with the economic crisis in Tunisia. He confirmed that France was as always ready to support Tunisia, and to accompany it in the implementation of these reforms”.