Tabboubi reiterates call for formation of new government

Secretary-General of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) Noureddine Tabboubi, on Tuesday, reiterated his call for the formation of a government that will meet the economic and social challenges of the country.

Speaking at a “Tunisie Telecom” group union rally, Tabboubi said the demand to form a government is not a crime and that the union has entitlements and priorities, recalling several agreements with the previous government that were not published in the Official Gazette. This is besides the agreement to launch wage negotiations in the public sector and civil service for the years 2021-2022 and 2023, he pointed out.

He said it is necessary to highlight the real economic situation of the country, adding: “we belong to an open world with common interests, and our current situation shows that we have neither the ability nor the power to negotiate with international institutions.»

 

Source: TAP News Agency

Jerandi and Nuland affirm commitment to support political settlement process in Libya

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Othman Jerandi on Monday had a talk with the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, on the fringes of his participation in the 76th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 76), on September 20-27 in New York.

The talk offered an opportunity to exchange views on current key regional and international issues, according to a Foreign Affairs Department press release issued on Tuesday. The two sides reaffirmed willingness to step up consultations on issues dealt with by the UN Security Council.

They affirmed commitment to support the political settlement process in Libya and to implement the terms of the roadmap issued by the Libyan Dialogue Forum, including the organisation of parliamentary and presidential elections before December 24, 2021.

Jerandi and Nuland pointed out the need for the swift withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries in Libya, in compliance with the ceasefire agreement and the Security Council resolutions.

Besides, the two officials discussed the distinguished relations of friendship and cooperation binding Tunisia and the United States as well as ways to further foster them, the same source said.

Jerandi affirmed Tunisia’s commitment to the achievements of its democratic experience, assuring that the exceptional measures announced by President Kais Saied on July 25, 2021, aim at rectifying the democratic process.

The US diplomat reasserted her country’s support for Tunisia’s democratic experience, as well as its willingness to consolidate cooperation with Tunisia.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

Council of Judiciary decries smear campaign against its members

The Council of the Judiciary on Tuesday decried the smear campaign against its members.

It recalls in a press release, that it had taken the initiative in August 2019 to open all corruption cases without the intervention of any side.

The council also points to its decision of November 24, 2020 to entrust the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Tunis Court of First Instance and the General Inspectorate of the Justice Ministry with the case of the leaks related to the assassination of Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi as well as terrorism and financial corruption cases.

Besides, it underlined that it had reinforced the principles of independence and neutrality by putting an end to the posting of judges to the government and to authorities whose composition does not require the presence of a judge.

The council explained that the professional career of judges is based on equal opportunities, transparency, competence, neutrality and independence, taking into account the principles provided for in the Constitution, international conventions and the criteria set out in the statutes of the judiciary.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

Political parties express divergent opinions on Kais Saied’s speech in Sidi Bouzid

The opinions of political parties about the content of the speech of President of the Republic Kais Saied in Sidi Bouzid are divided. While some political parties have welcomed a rectification of the revolutionary process, others have expressed concern about the transitional provisions and the fate of the 2014 constitution.

Zouheir Hamdi secretary general of the People’s Movement believes that the speech delivered Monday by President Kais Saied in Sidi Bouzid has “outlined the stage”, pending the announcement of tangible measures.

He added that his party had called for the measures to be transformed into decisions whose implementation must be set by deadlines, such as the final dissolution of parliament and the announcement, as soon as possible of the content and duration of transitional provisions.

He placed emphasis, in a statement to TAP, on the formation of a small transitional government and entrust it with the task of saving the economy and fighting corruption.

The Secretary General of the Popular Current also proposes a community debate on the new electoral system and the revision of the constitution and legislation related to elections, including the law of political parties and the law of associations as well as the texts governing the media and polling institutes.

He said the activation of accountability mechanisms against all those who have violated the rights of Tunisians is essential in any economic or political reform.

For his part, leader in the Echaab movement Abderrazak Aouidet welcomed the fact that President Saied, in his speech, links the revolution of December 17, 2011 to exceptional measures of July 25, 2021. These are, according to him, two key dates in the process of the revolution.

Leader in Tahya Tounes Mustapha Ben Ahmed, for his part, pointed out that the speech of President Kais Saied is “a harsh response” to the protest rally against the July 25 measures held last Saturday in the capital.

In his speech, Saied did not talk about the mechanisms that will be adopted to translate his decisions into action, he noted.

Deviating from the constitution means deviating from legitimacy he warned, deeming inconceivable to choose to follow some provisions of the constitution and reject others.

For the Secretary General of Al Joumhouri Issam Chebbi, the speech of the President of the Republic causes concern about the future of the country.

Al Joumhouri regrets the fact of calling the opponents of the president of traitors and those who support him patriots, he argued in a statement to TAP.

He added that his party is also opposed to changing the electoral law and the constitution without going through a national debate, warning against the monopolization of power and the risks of despotic drifts.

President Kaïs Saïed, on Monday evening, announced during a visit to the governorate of Sidi Bouzid that the last July 25 exceptional measures will remain, new transitional rules have been developed to run the country, a Prime Minister will be appointed shortly and a new electoral bill will be prepared.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

Observatory for Defence of Civilian Character of State voices concern about lack of new presidential steps

The National Observatory for the Defence of the Civilian Character of the State voiced deep concern over the lack of new presidential measures, two months after those taken on July 25.

«Two months have passed since July 25 and the President of the Republic has taken no more steps,» the Observatory said in a statement Tuesday.

These exceptional measures have hampered the smooth running of State institutions, including the Parliament and the Prime Ministry, the Observatory added.

It stressed the need to amend the electoral law, to review the political system and to form a government, whose members should be chosen according to the criterion of competence.

It also called to hold accountable those «responsible for the failure of the government before July 25» and to examine pending cases, especially those related to political assassinations.

The Observatory also called to preserve, in the framework of the transitional provisions, the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the 2014 Constitution, particularly with regard to the values of the Republic and the universal principles of human rights.

President Kais Saied, in a speech Monday from Sidi Bouzid, stressed that the exceptional measures announced last July 25 will continue, adding transitional provisions have been developed under which the PM will be named, and a new electoral bill will be prepared.

The rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution will be preserved, he indicated.

The President did not specify in his speech whether he had decided to suspend the constitution or only some of its chapters and articles.

 

Source: TAP News Agency

Political party secretaries-general meet UGTT’s Tabboubi

Secretary-General of the Tunisian General Labour Union, Noureddine Tabboubi, met Tuesday, secretaries general of the Democratic Current (Attayar), Ghazi Chaouachi, Ettakatol, Khalil Zaouia, Al Joumhouri, Issam Chebbi, and Afek Tounes, Fadhel Abdelkefi.

The meeting focused on the general situation in the country, said the labour oganisation.

For his part, Ghazi Chaouachi wrote in a Facebook post the secretaries general of the four parties have expressed their great concern about “the persistent vagueness” and “growing tensions” at a time when the country needs “signs of appeasement” to better manage the repercussions of the crisis that may paralyse state institutions.

Chaouachi said the delegation reaffirmed its rejection of all calls to suspend the constitution or extend the state of exception.

They also emphasised the need to expedite the appointment of a prime minister to address the urgent economic issues.

He added that the secretaries general of the four parties have affirmed their determination to assume their responsibility in this delicate period and work to broaden the basis of consultations (with all national organisations and democratic parties).

 

Source: TAP News Agency