Tunisia raises its voice against ‘unacceptable interference’ by the United States
Relations are tense between Tunisia and the United States, a country increasingly critical of President Kais Saied who has concentrated all power since July 25, 2021.
The Tunisian authorities raised their voices. Four days after the constitutional referendum, which saw the “yes” vote in favor of a new constitution proposed by President Kais Saied, the government convened for the first time the American Chargé d’Affaires. Natasha Franceschi, who serves as the embassy’s chief official, had to visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tunis on Friday, July 29.
The summons came a few hours after a meeting between the Head of State and Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi. The latter denounced “unacceptable interference in national internal affairs” and expressed “Tunisian astonishment”, following statements by senior US officials on this controversial referendum.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and the US Ambassador-designate to Tunisia, Joey Hood, had criticized the referendum process. The head of US diplomacy called for “an inclusive and transparent reform process” that also included opponents of the new constitution, while the ambassador-designate spoke of “an alarming erosion of democratic norms and fundamental freedoms” in Tunisia.
