A delegation of senior US officials on Friday sent a written message from US President Joe Biden to his Tunisian counterpart Kaies Saied, who seized power on July 25, notably suspending the activity of Parliament. The American delegation is led by Jonathan Finer, deputy national security adviser to the White House, added the Tunisian presidency in a statement which does not provide any indication of the content of Joe Biden’s message.
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During the interview, Jonathan Finer indicated that Washington “Supports the democratic process in Tunisia and awaits the next steps which will be undertaken by the President of the Republic at the political and governmental levels”, according to the press release. For his part, Kaies Saied indicated again that the “Exceptional measures” that it had taken on July 25, were part of the application of the constitution and meet the expectations of the people against a backdrop of political, economic and social crises. “There is no need to worry about freedom, justice and democracy”, he said, according to the same source.
Kaies Saied granted himself full powers on July 25 and suspended parliament, saying he wanted “to save” this small Maghreb country, plagued by months of political blockages and a deadly peak of Covid-19. This coup has aroused the concern of the international community fearing to see Tunisia, cradle of the Arab Spring, regress towards authoritarianism. In early August, the United States underlined “The crucial need for Tunisian leaders to outline a rapid return to the democratic path of Tunisia”.
“This will require the rapid formation of a new government, headed by a competent prime minister, in order to stabilize the Tunisian economy and deal with the Covid-19 pandemic”, adds the press release. However, the Tunisian president is slow to appoint a head of government and unveil his program, raising concern among political parties and national organizations who are calling for a “roadmap”.
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