Tunisia witnesses social, economic results of power monopoly: Labor union

By Yousra Ounas​​​​​​​

TUNIS, Tunisia (AA) - The Secretary-General of the Tunisian Labor Union (UGTT) said on Friday that Tunisia is currently witnessing "the social and economic consequences of the monopolized power."

During the 77th anniversary of the founding of the union, Noureddine Taboubi said: “The situation in Tunisia cannot get any worse.”

He stressed that "the role of the UGTT lies in uniting and not separating," considering that Tunisia "is not a laboratory for experiments for political teenagers."

He pointed out that "26.5% of subsidies on fuel and basic foods have been lifted in Tunisia, in compliance with the conditions of the International Monetary Fund."

“All successive governments since 2011 have not provided anything for the country,” he noted.

Taboubi added that “the people shouldn’t be underestimated,” and that “they are capable of another spring.”

There was no comment from the Tunisian authorities.

Tunisia is going through a severe economic crisis aggravated by the coronavirus pandemic and rising fuel prices amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

The country has been in the throes of a deep political crisis that aggravated the country's economy since 2021, when President Kais Saied ousted the government and dissolved parliament.

Since then, Saied held a referendum to draft a new constitution last July and parliamentary elections last December.

While Saied insists that his measures were meant to "save" the country, critics have accused him of orchestrating a coup.

* Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report.