On Tuesday 19 October, MEPs expressed their concerns about the current political situation in Tunisia, a country they described as important for the EU.
While a new government has been appointed, headed by Najla Bouden Romdhane, the activities of Parliament are still suspended and President Kaïs Saïed is concentrating his powers.
“The concentration of power in the hands of the President alone is worrying in terms of form and content; it is not a necessary step to save democracy”, summarised Frédérique Ries (Belgium) for Renew Europe. “Unless he breaks with the culture of dialogue, it is up to President Saïed to capitalise on his popularity to bring together rather than divide, to make the gestures and reforms that Tunisians expect”, she added.
For the Greens/EFA, Salima Yenbou (France) called for a clear roadmap. “I hear that part of the population has confidence in the President, but this confidence cannot substitute for the proper functioning of institutions in the long term”, she warned. “Saïed has hit Tunisian democracy hard”, added Adam Bielan (ECR, Poland), saying that this situation could lead to a violent confrontation with society.
Like Michael Gahler (EPP, Germany), he called for a national dialogue.
While Thierry Mariani (ID, France) said the new government should be given a chance, Emmanuel Maurel (The Left, France) said this government was a “first step”, but that the concentration of power in the hands of one man was never good. “We need a new electoral process”, he added.
Maria Arena (S&D, Belgium) said the EU should redouble its efforts towards Tunisia - which is suffering from an economic, health and political-institutional crisis - and stand by its citizens. “The European institutions and the Member States must continue to support the democratic aspirations of the Tunisians”, Mr Bielan also stressed.
During the debate, while welcoming the appointment of a new government, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, recalled that it was crucial that President Saïed and the Tunisian authorities, at all levels, fully restore constitutional and institutional order, including parliamentary activity.
He said that during his conversation with Mr Saïed on Friday 15 October, Mr Saïed assured him that he intended to limit what he called a ‘period of exceptional measures’ and to engage in a national dialogue to lay the foundations for a new beginning for Tunisian democracy. “It is now a question of putting this into practice, with a precise timetable”, said Borrell. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)