President of the Republic Kais Saied said Sunday there are still attempts to harm the country and exploit the poverty and misery of citizens.

Manoeuvres by sides- he did not name- to push for a repeat of the migrant flow scenario to Italy and Europe after Ben Ali’s ouster are designed to undermine relations with Italy and Europe, he cautioned.  Necessary measures will be taken “immediately” against them.

Ennahdha’s president and parliament speaker Rached Ghannouchi told Italian Corriere Della Sera newspaper Friday it is feared there would be a return to chaos and terrorism if  President Saied does not reconsider his decisions.  Illegal migration attempts would also increase.

Tunisia and the European Union, particularly Italy, are in the same boat and everyone will be affected, Ghannouchi further said,  if democracy is not restored in the shortest time possible in Tunisia.

Over 500,000 Tunisian youths would seek to leave the country in a short period of time, he further said.

Ghannouchi was referring to the decisions announced Sunday by President Kais Saied to freeze parliament, lift MPs’ immunity and dismiss PM Hichem Mechichi as well as senior officials.

Saied said, as he addressed Sunday the interior minister during a visit to Habib Bourguiba avenue, downtown Tunis,  these practices are aimed to undermine the State and jeopardise the new process rather than find solutions to poverty.

The State is not a booty; it belongs to all Tunisians, the President further said.

“I repeatedly warned them but in vain; today, measures must be taken against them, ” Saied added.

Source: TAP News Agency