The Tunisian General Labor Union organized, today, Saturday, in the capital, Tunis, a demonstration opposing President Kais Saied and the measures he recently took against his opponents.
Thousands of Tunisians participated in the protest march in the capital, Tunis, to “defend the trade union right” and to condemn the economic and social situation.
The march called for by the Tunisian General Labor Union started from “Mohamed Ali” Square towards “Habib Bourguiba” Street.
Reuters reported that Habib Bourguiba Street was filled with several thousand protesters participating in this demonstration, which is the largest.
The Secretary General of the Labor Union, Noureddine Taboubi, said in a speech on the sidelines of the march, that “if it is indeed proven who wants to assassinate President Kais Saied, then we will all be at the forefront of the forces that renounce violence and terrorism…. And we want a peaceful change through democratic mechanisms.”
He added, “We will continue to defend freedoms and all rights, whatever the cost. We are not afraid of prisons and arrests.”
Al-Taboubi stated, “The union will not accept the suppression of freedoms in the country, whatever the outcome… The workers of the world are united against injustice and against striking the union right and the right to strike.”
And he added, “There are those who demonize the union and outbid it… The last remaining fortress in the country is the steadfast forces from the components of civil society, so let us be steadfast.”
Al-Taboubi continued, “Our only weapon is argument and persuasion, and we are not advocates of violence and terrorism.”
In turn, Hamma al-Hamami, leader of the Workers’ Party, said in a statement to Reuters: “The only answer to Said and the creeping dictatorship is the street and protest… He wants to spread fear, and Tunisians are no longer afraid.”
Last week, the Tunisian authorities prevented foreign trade union leaders from entering Tunisia to participate in the march as an expression of solidarity with the Labor Union, and President Kais Saied said he would not accept foreigners to join the protests.
