Thousands of opposition supporters in Tunisia attended an illustration within the capital to name on President Kais Saied to resign amid the continuing financial disaster.
Separate rallies by totally different opposition teams have been held in Tunis with a heavy police presence, Agence France-Presse (AFP) correspondents mentioned.
Held on the twelfth anniversary of the autumn of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, they arrive towards a backdrop of deepening political divisions and deteriorating financial situations within the North African nation.
“The people want what you don’t want. So down with Saied,” chanted protesters on the foremost demonstration, organized by Tunisia’s most distinguished opposition power, the National Salvation Front (FSN), which incorporates Saied’s nemesis, the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha celebration.
Ennahdha had dominated parliament till Saied launched a dramatic energy seize on July 25, 2021, sacking the federal government and freezing parliament earlier than appointing a brand new cupboard and ruling by decree.
According to the federal government, Tunisians who largely supported Saied’s 2021 takeover have turn out to be more and more fed up with rising inflation and poverty, affecting some 20 p.c of the nation’s 12 million inhabitants.
“The coup has brought us famine and poverty. Yesterday the grocer gave me just one kilo of macaroni and a can of milk,” mentioned Nouha, a girl on the foremost protest amid shortages of important items.
“How can I feed my family of 13 people with that?” the 50-year-old housewife lamented.
Protesters at a separate left-wing march not far-off denounced Saied’s “authoritarian drift,” which threatens the one democracy to have emerged from the Arab Spring revolts.
Some chanted slogans echoing the messages of the 2011 rebellion and demanded “work,” AFP correspondents mentioned, as unemployment hovers above 15 p.c.
‘Unbearable shortages’
Omar, 27, an unemployed former Saied supporter on the foremost National Salvation Front rally, mentioned the president had “betrayed” Tunisians.
“And here is the result: an economic crisis, unbearable shortages, no milk in our fridges,” mentioned Omar, who requested to be recognized by his first identify solely.
As the cash-strapped Tunisian state, which has a monopoly on sure imports, has confronted problem bringing in important items, Tunisians have endured shortages of merchandise, together with espresso, milk and sugar.
Struggling below debt value round 80 p.c of its gross home product, Tunisia reached an settlement in precept with the International Monetary Fund in mid-October for a bailout package deal value round $2 billion, however it’s nonetheless awaiting closing approval.
Another march on Saturday, attended by a whole bunch of individuals, was led by Abir Moussi of the opposition Free Destourian Party.
“Saied’s regime” is liable for the financial disaster, Moussi informed the group, calling for his resignation.
A former legislation professor and political outsider, Saied 2019 grew to become Tunisia’s second democratically elected president since Ben Ali’s ouster.
