Jordi Solé calls for urgent reform in Tunisia

EFA Group President Jordi Solé intervened in plenary to alert about the dire democratic situation Tunisia finds itself in.

MEP Jordi Solé expressed his concerns over the current political situation in the North African country and pointed out the weak legitimacy of the recent elections when less than 15% of the census cast their vote 

“What is the legitimacy of a parliament voted by only 11% of the voters?

When eighty-nine per cent of the citizens stay at home, they send a clear message of rejection.” 

“Rejection of President Saied's roadmap, and the way he has implemented it, in an overly authoritarian manner. Rejection to a once too corrupt parliament with fragile majorities, but also rejection to a now emptied parliament,” he said

The Catalan MEP criticised the actions of President Kais Saied and the authoritarian behaviour of his government that are leaving the Tunisian people in a very harrowing economic situation. 

“Tunisia is suffering from a serious economic and social crisis that President Saied's controversial decisions have not succeeded in rectifying, quite the contrary. “ He said.

“He only succeeds in exacerbating political divisions and generating dangerous apathy among the population, while their living conditions continue to deteriorate despite promises.” He added.

Solé MEP demands urgent reform and much-needed change to guarantee a better quality of life for Tunisians, like many MPs and local civic society organisations, are proposing. Solé calls for the EU to be a stabilising tool in the area to guarantee progress. 

“Tunisian society needs to reach a new consensus on how to salvage the democratic transition and restore the pillars of a clean, inclusive and effective democratic governance system.” 

“In this sense, the initiative of several civil society organisations advocating a national dialogue for reforms, which has been supported by several political parties and recently elected MPs, is to be welcomed and supported.”  He concluded.