TUNISIA, Sept 3 (Reuters) – Tunisia’s powerful UGTT union and two political parties on Friday rejected an invitation to discuss the political crisis with a US congressional delegation visiting Tunisia, saying they reject any foreign interference in the local crisis .
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy will lead a congressional delegation to discuss the way forward to protect democracy in Tunisia on a visit on Saturday, following the takeover of government by President Kais Saied in July, in a move that critics they called it a coup.
Saied ousted his prime minister on July 25, froze parliament and took over executive authority in a sudden intervention that his Islamist opponents labeled a coup, but said was necessary to save the country of collapse. Last week the exceptional measures were extended indefinitely.
The president’s actions appear to have broad support after years of economic stagnation and political paralysis.
However, Saied’s delay in appointing a new government or announcing his long-term plans has provoked nervousness among some Tunisians who fear a lack of direction in the face of major economic challenges or even a return to autocracy. [ read more ]
The US delegation, which will visit Tunisia as part of a regional visit that will include Lebanon, Israel and the West Bank, will discuss the crisis in Tunisia with officials and politicians.
“Our Tunisian affair must be resolved only among Tunisians, the UGTT union will not participate in the invitation of the US embassy,” said Sami Tahri, spokesman for the UGTT union, a key player in the scene Tunisian politics.
He added that UGTT did not accept the harassment of foreigners in the time of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and “will not accept it today and tomorrow.”
The Free Constitutional Party led by Abir Moussi, a supporter of former President Ben Ali overthrown by the 2011 revolution, and the Achaab party close to Saied also declined the invitation saying there was no way to accept any interference in the local crisis. .
Reports by Tarek Amara Edited by Marguerita Choy
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