18/04/2023 (Agence Europe) – The spokesperson for the European External Action Service stressed on Tuesday 18 April “the fundamental principle of political pluralism”, announcing that he was following “with great concern” the latest developments in Tunisia, in particular the arrest the previous day of the leader of the opposition party Ennahda, Rached Ghannouchi, and the reports of the closure of the party’s headquarters in Tunis. This arrest is in addition to the ongoing series of detentions of political actors from different opposition groups, the spokesperson said in a statement. Waiting for official information on the reasons for the arrest, he stressed “the importance of respecting the rights of the defence and the right to a fair trial”. These principles, like that of political pluralism, are essential for any democracy and form the basis of the EU’s partnership with Tunisia, the spokesman warned. (CG)