The United States and the European Union call on Tunisia to respect democracy in the country where President Kais Saied has dismissed the government and sidelined parliament.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell urged on Tuesday, on behalf of the 27 member states, “to restore institutional stability as soon as possible and, in particular, to resume parliamentary activities, respecting fundamental rights and abstaining from all forms of violence.”
The US and the EU are very concerned about the situation in the country. Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigrid Kaag calls the developments in Tunisia “disturbing”. “I call on all concerned to remain peaceful,” she tweeted.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Foreign Affairs) spoke to Saied by telephone on Monday. Blinken “encouraged President Saied to adhere to the principles of democracy and human rights that are the foundation of governance in Tunisia,” a statement from Washington said. Borrell argues that “democratic roots and respect for the rule of law, the constitution and the legislative framework must be preserved while remaining alert to the aspirations and aspirations of the Tunisian people.”
The media situation in Tunisia is also a cause for concern after the office of the Qatari channel Al-Jazeera in Tunis was closed. “We demand scrupulous respect for freedom of speech and other civil rights,” the Americans said. In her tweet, Kaag urges “to respect fundamental rights, including freedom of the press.”