International pressure compounds Tunisian economic crisis

There are international and local concerns over the political and economic situation in Tunisia, which is hoping for a deal with the IMF in return for implementing reforms that are rejected by the powerful UGTT labor union.
People walk past Saint-Vincent de Paul Cathedral on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis on Dec. 14, 2021.
People walk past Saint-Vincent de Paul Cathedral on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis on Dec. 14, 2021, one day after Tunisia's president extended his monthslong suspension of parliament until new elections in December 2022, while calling for a July referendum on constitutional reforms. That marks a year since President Kais Saied sacked the government, suspended parliament and seized a string of powers, as the North African country wallowed in political and economic crises compounded by the coronavirus pandemic. - FETHI BELAID/AFP via Getty Images
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Mohamed Ali Ltifi
@MohamedAliLtifi

TUNIS, Tunisia — Tunisia’s efforts to obtain a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to deal with its deteriorating economic crisis may be hindered by the growing international criticism against President Kais Saied’s recent measures, which are seen as a way to cement his one-man rule. 

In remarks to the House Appropriations Committee on April 28, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Tunisia needs to address concerns about its democracy if it wants to garner much-needed international economic support.

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