Democracy in Tunisia "must not be lost," according to Germany

 


Following last week's arrest of opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock issued a warning on Friday against Tunisia reversing course on the foundations of its democracy.

Reporters were informed by Baerbock that Berlin was "extremely concerned" about Ghannouchi's detention and emphasised that Tunisia's "democracy achievements since 2011 must not be lost."

The 81-year-old Ghannouchi, a former speaker of parliament, was detained on Monday following comments he made stating that the elimination of opposing ideologies, such as the left or political Islam, which his party sprang from, may cause a "civil war."

His Ennahdha party, which is a part of the major opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front (FSN), claimed he had been detained on suspicion of "plotting against state security."

Due to Tunisia's high levels of debt, unemployment, and inflation, some of its residents have attempted to elude capture by escaping to Europe.

Authorities in the North African nation have detained more than 20 political opponents and figures since early February.

Before Tunisia's president Kais Saied disbanded the legislature in July 2021 as part of a power grab that gave him the ability to rule by decree, the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party controlled the majority of seats in the legislature.

The detainees, according to Saied, 65, were "terrorists" who were engaged in a "conspiracy against state security."

In the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring upheavals in the region more than ten years ago, critics have labelled his acts a "coup" and a return to autocratic control.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Tunisia have been negotiating for a loan worth close to $2 billion for a number of months, but negotiations seem to have come to an impasse.

Baerbock admitted that Tunisia was "confronted with a difficult economic and social situation" and said that the European Union did not want to "leave the Tunisian people alone" to deal with it.

She emphasised that for the negotiations with the IMF to be successful, it is "imperative" that the Tunisian government do its share.

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