Debate: Situation in Tunisia
Date: TUESDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Josep Borrell Fontelles
Language: EN

C’est un pays voisin lié à l’Europe par une multitude de liens forgés au long de l’histoire. Mais il se trouve dans une situation préoccupante. The extension of unprecedented, exceptional measures confirming, among others, the suspension of the Parliament – not the cancelling of the Parliament, which would be clearly unconstitutional, but suspension – and a deep socioeconomic crisis, which the COVID pandemic has worsened, are increasingly raising apprehension among us and among all main international partners. The European Union has built a strong partnership with Tunisia since 2011, since the Arab Spring that started there in Tunisia. We have strongly supported its democratic consolidation, both politically and financially. Democratic transition often proves long and extremely challenging. And this is the case in Tunisia. Sometimes these transitions can even risk being disappointing when the populations do not immediately see the dividends. And this has been the case in Tunisia. But the acquis must always be preserved, and this has to be the case in Tunisia. Immediately after President Saied suspended Parliament – suspended, not cancelled, but a permanent and unending suspension can be something similar to cancelling – the European Union expressed its position through the declaration that I issued on behalf of all Member States on 27 July. I then reached out to President Saied when I visited Tunisia and had a long and frank discussion with him in early September. So, as you can see, I’ve been following very closely the events in this country, and we spoke again last Friday over the phone. I was in the US, but nevertheless I wanted to have a phone call with him to talk about the consequences of the decree and the formation of a government. As you may have seen, they went public on the key messages that I conveyed and the President did the same. On both occasions, President Saied and I had a very frank exchange and I clearly expressed the apprehensions in Europe over the latest developments, in particular about this presidential decree of 22 September that extended the exceptional measures granting to the President additional powers. President Saied is a professor of constitutional law so he knows better than I the theory of the question. And when I talk with him, he gives a lot of explanations from constitutional theory about the well-founded nature of his decisions. I reiterated that the preservation of the democratic acquis, parliamentarian democracy and institutional stability, respect for the separation of powers, the rule of law and independent judiciary, as well as respect of fundamental rights and freedoms, are key for long—term stability and prosperity in Tunisia. The President has been very much concerned by with the functioning of the Tunisian democracy; he has also referred to me to some events that happened inside the Tunisian parliament, today closed, and the behaviour of the political parties that, according with his ideas, were not working on behalf of the wellbeing of the Tunisian people. For a certain time, there has not been a prime minister and the recent appointment of a new one, Ms Najla Bouden Romdhane, is certainly a positive step, but the power of this government is a different one from the first, the one who was dismissed by the President. The establishment of a functioning government is certainly crucial to immediately start tackling the many challenges that Tunisia faces. And we have to salute this event. However, it’s crucial for the country’s future, and its domestic and international credibility, that the President and the Tunisian authorities at all levels fully restore the constitutional and institutional order, including parliamentarian activity – the Parliament cannot stay closed indefinitely – and that they set a clear timetable for its reopening. I have to mention that the parliamentarians have been sent home, lost their immunity, lost their salary and lost their activity. So the Parliament has to restore its activities. During my call with President Saied last Friday, I took note in particular of the President’s reassurance – he reassured me in very clear words that he intends to limit what he called a period of exceptional measures taken in accordance with an article of the Constitution that allows him to act when the country is facing a dangerous situation. And at the same time to engage in a national dialogue to put the basis for a new restarting of the Tunisian democracy. What matters now is to put this into practice with a clear timetable. In such a worrisome situation, and in the name of the strategic and solid partnership that we have with Tunisia and the important amount of financial resources that we are allocating to the development of this country, it’s fundamental for both sides that we maintain a serious and open dialogue in full respect of Tunisian sovereignty, for sure, needless to say, but also with the wish and aspirations of its citizens, we desire to keep supporting the Tunisian people with the ultimate purpose of restoring the Tunisian authorities on the way towards constitutional normality in the weeks to come. You can rest assured that I will remain vigilant according to my duty. And I do hope that together, all European Union institutions, we will find the best way to help Tunisia to preserve its democracy, stability and future prosperity. This is our shared objective and I am sure that the debate today will help to look to this purpose and to follow this path. I thank you in advance.