President of the Republic Kaïs Saïed stressed the need to issue a decree prohibiting foreign funding of NGOs that constitute “extensions” of parties and “satellite offices» of foreign powers in Tunisia.

In reality, these funds transferred from abroad are intended to finance electoral campaigns or used to undermine the state. “We refuse any interference in our choices, neither by funds nor by pressure. Tunisians are a sovereign and dignified people.»

The President of the Republic, who spoke at the opening of the Cabinet meeting on Thursday at Carthage Palace, stressed that the judiciary is called to apply as soon as possible the report of the Court of Auditors on the financing of election campaigns in 2019.

Moreover, the judiciary has all the figures relating to funds from abroad, he said.

President Saied also spoke in his speech about the attempts of the symbols of the “old regime” and those who call themselves “patriots” to return to the national scene, after having «plundered the country.»

He added: “we will not accept their return because the people have rejected them. They will stop at nothing to harm the country.»

Kaïs Saïed also insisted on the respect of freedoms. “We refuse any infringement of the rights and freedoms that are guaranteed by the Constitution as well as by international and regional texts.

On the issue of the judiciary, the President of the Republic reaffirmed that he had no intention of intervening in the sector. “We refuse to interfere in the affairs of justice and assert that power belongs to the people. No authority should become an absolute power,” he pointed out.

Referring to the judicial council, Saied indicated that there is, today, only one council in response to the magistrates who question the legitimacy of the temporary council.

He added, in this context, that many honest judges have spoken in the media and during their meetings about the abuses recorded in the courts.

“The magistracy is a function,” he insisted, noting that there is no such thing as a legislating judge. Saied reaffirmed his attachment to an independent judiciary that respects the law.

On the developments in Ukraine, the President of the Republic was keen to reassure the families of Tunisians living in Ukraine that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been working since the start of military operations on Thursday at dawn to ensure their evacuation in safe conditions by land, via Poland.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring the situation of Tunisians in Ukraine to develop plans for the evacuation of Tunisians, mainly by land.

Referring to the ongoing public consultation, he pointed to technical shortcomings in addition to attempts by some parties to derail this experience.

Source: Tap News Agency