Tunisia unions demand 'roadmap' to end state of exception

TUNIS, Tunisia: Tunisia's powerful 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 (Sunday in Manila). "Tunisia will not be built with individualism," UGTT Secretary General Noureddine Taboubi told Agence France-Presse after addressing supporters, calling on the president to adopt a "participatory approach." Saied sacked the government, suspended parliament and assumed exceptional powers on July 25, citing an "imminent threat" to the country. Many of his detractors have accused him of staging a constitutional coup. On September 22, 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.

Source: TheManila Times