TUNIS— The ambassadors of the G7 group of
advanced economies urged Tunisia's president on Monday to appoint a new head of
government as a matter of urgency and return to a constitutional order in which
an elected parliament plays a significant role.
اضافة اعلان
The statement, put out by the British embassy on social
media, is the most significant public expression of unease by major democracies
since President Kais Saied seized governing powers in July in moves his
opponents called a coup.
"We underline the urgent need to appoint a new head of
government to form a capable government able to address the immediate economic
and health crises facing Tunisia," the statement said.
Western democracies have been among the most important
donors helping to support Tunisian public finances over the past decade as the
economy has slumped since the 2011 revolution that introduced democracy.
Saied, who was elected in 2019, said on July 25 he was
freezing parliament, lifting the immunity of its members, dismissing the prime
minister and that he would assume executive authority alongside a new premier.
He said his intervention was in line with the constitution
and necessitated by a national emergency due to political paralysis, high
COVID-19 rates, and protests. He has vowed that rights will not be affected.
Six weeks on, however, he has not named a prime minister or
said what he plans to do, has indefinitely rolled over the emergency measures
and said there can be "no going back", while Tunisians speculate
about whether he will amend the constitution.
The G7 statement said appointing a prime minister would
"create space for an inclusive dialogue about proposed constitutional and
electoral reforms" and added that democratic values would remain central
to their relations with Tunisia.
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