Noureddine Taboubi, secretary-general of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), gestures as he speaks at the commemoration of the 69th anniversary of the assassination of its founder Farhat Hached (during the French protectorate period), in the capital Tunis on 4 December 2021. Photo: Sofiene Hamdaoui / AFP
Tunisia unions demand ‘roadmap’ to end state of exception
Saied sacked the government, suspended parliament and assumed exceptional powers on 25 July, citing an “imminent threat” to Tunisia
Noureddine Taboubi, secretary-general of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), gestures as he speaks at the commemoration of the 69th anniversary of the assassination of its founder Farhat Hached (during the French protectorate period), in the capital Tunis on 4 December 2021. Photo: Sofiene Hamdaoui / AFP
Tunisia’s powerful Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) trade union confederation demanded a “national dialogue” and a “roadmap” out of a state of exception imposed by President Kais Said, at a rally attended by thousands of supporters on Saturday.
“Tunisia will not be built with individualism,” UGTT secretary general Noureddine Taboubi told AFP after addressing supporters, calling on the president to adopt a “participatory approach”.
CONSTITUTIONAL COUP
“Work, freedom and national dignity,” the demonstrators chanted. “With our souls and our blood, we will defend the UGTT.”
Saied sacked the government, suspended parliament and assumed exceptional powers on 25 July, citing an “imminent threat” to the country. Many of his detractors have accused him of staging a constitutional coup.
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A WAY OUT OF STATE EXCEPTION
On 22 September, Saied suspended parts of the constitution and installed rule by decree, in a further blow to the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring uprisings of a decade ago.
The president has since sought to assure Washington that he is seeking a way out of the state of exception.
The UGTT was a joint winner of the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for its role in the transition from the iron-fisted rule of deposed president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
© Agence France-Presse
