Politician calls for rescue plan for crisis-stricken Tunisia

By Marwa al-Saheli
TUNIS, Tunisia (AA) – A Tunisian politician on Tuesday called for a rescue plan to draw the North African nation out of its current political and economic crises.

"There must be reforms in order to save Tunisia through a rescue plan to cruise the country out of the political, economic and social crises," Ahmed Najib Chebbi, a leader in Al-Amal (Hope) Party, told a press conference.

"A legitimate salvation government must be formed to manage a transitional phase, based on the outcome of a national dialogue to address economic, political, constitutional and legal reforms," he added.

Chebbi went on to call for holding early presidential and legislative elections under the supervision of the country’s Independent National Electoral Commission.

On Feb. 18, Chebbi called for the formation of a national salvation front that was joined by five Tunisian parties, including Ennahda.

Tunisia has been in the throes of a deep political crisis since July 25, 2021, when President Kais Saied dismissed the government, suspended parliament, and assumed executive authority, in a move decried by opponents as a “coup.”

The North African country is also going through a severe economic crisis aggravated by the coronavirus pandemic amid the ongoing Russian war on Ukraine.

Last month, Saied dissolved the suspended parliament, shortly after lawmakers convened a plenary session to overturn his measures.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat