Fix Tunisian Economy: President Saied Trying To Control Prices, Seek Foreign Loans And Target Corruptors

Illustration of protests in Tunisia. (Wikimedia Commons/Naevus)

JAKARTA - Tunisian President Kais Saied said his party was moving quickly to improve sectors of life in Tunisia, after he announced emergency measures on Sunday.

Quoting Reuters on Thursday, July 29, President Saeid carried out restructuring of the economic sector, carried out an investigation into corruption, to the handling of COVID-19, a step he called a step to save Tunisia.

Furthermore, President Kais Saied said the spike in cases of COVID-19 infection and mismanagement of the government made him take emergency steps, as well as to prevent civil strife between citizens.

Public anger followed by years of economic hardship, as well as a decline in public services, made Tunisians furious at the dullness of domestic politics.

President Saied, who says his actions are constitutional but has yet to set out next steps, has been urged by the United States to stick to democratic principles.

Backed by the army, Saied's actions included suspending parliament for 30 days. Opponents including the Islamist Ennahda party, the largest in parliament, accuse him of a power struggle.

Earlier, President Saied dismissed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, Tunisian Defense Minister Ibrahim Bartaji and Hasna Ben Slimane, acting justice minister, and ordered a curfew to be imposed from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time.

Illustration of COVID-19 in Tunisia. (Wikimedia Commons/Brahim Guedich)

On Wednesday he replaced the head of Tunisia's national television station Mohamed al-Dahach, after incidents linked to officials from a journalist syndicate and human rights league.

Economic Focus

Late Wednesday, the Tunisian Presidency published a video showing President Saied telling the heads of business unions that the wrong economic choices have caused huge financial problems for the country.

In the video, President Saied seeks to control prices by asking traders to lower the prices of goods, warning against speculating or hoarding. He also targeted business figures accused of corruption, saying some 460 people had stolen 13.5 billion dinars, or about US$4.8 billion in public money.

While abroad, Tunisia is also seeking a loan agreement from the International Monetary Fund to finance the previously projected budget deficit, as well as repay the debt.

On tackling corruption, the court previously said it was investigating the two largest parties in parliament, Ennahda and Heart of Tunisia, on suspicion of receiving foreign funds during the 2019 election campaign. The court, which is widely seen in Tunisia as independent of politics, said its investigation began 10 days before presidential move.

Regarding COVID-19, President Saied tightened several restrictions, including by reinstating a curfew, as well as banning travel between cities. In addition, he also issued an order to establish a pandemic response center, to coordinate the handling of the COVID-19 crisis in Tunisia.