Announced Najla Bouden, without specifying the nature of the debts repaid, or whether they were maturities or all of the debts
The head of the Tunisian government, Najla Bouden, said on Saturday that her government had succeeded in “reimbursing the country’s internal and external debts”, stressing that the next stage would be that of “deep reforms”.
This emerges from a speech she gave at an event organized by the Ministry of Social Affairs in the capital, Tunis, on Saturday, on the occasion of the celebration of the International Labor Day in the capital Tunis, which corresponds to May 1st.
In her speech, Ms. Bouden affirmed that her government “has made a point of concentrating all its efforts, despite the challenges and the accumulations, in order to assume its responsibilities to get Tunisia out of its crisis and to keep the commitments it has made”. .
“We are not exaggerating when we say that we have succeeded in repaying internal and external debts (the value of which is not mentioned) and in paying salaries on time,” said the head of government, without specifying the nature of the debts repaid, or whether they were maturities or all of the debts.
Tunisia’s total public debt amounted, in 2010, to around 16 billion dollars, or 55% of the national GDP, it then increased to 20.6 billion dollars in 2017, then to 29 billion dollars in the end. end of 2020.
“We have also managed to secure the necessary basic food needs at a time when we have faced cross-border smuggling and illegal speculation,” Ms. Bouden added.
She also said: “We have managed to ensure a minimum level of social benefits and to provide an acceptable reserve of foreign exchange”.
The head of government indicated that “the next stage will be that of profound reforms”.
Commenting on Ms. Bouden’s announcement, Professor of Economics at the Tunisian University, Ridha Chakandali, said: “Tunisia is currently repaying tranches of its internal and external debts, while there are other debts whose payment deadline has not yet arrived”.
He told Anadolu Agency: “Bouden speaks of success in repaying debts, but Tunisia, from independence (1956) until today, has been quick to repay its debts. is normal and cannot be considered a miraculous success”.
Professor Chakandali pointed out that “Tunisia is not currently in danger of defaulting on its debts, because there are enough foreign exchange reserves, in the Central Bank’s treasury, to allow us to repay our debts this year”.
“However, in the coming years, a default could occur with the significant decline in foreign exchange reserves, as the country is economically at a standstill,” he added.
Tunisia’s general budget deficit was around $7 billion, or 8.5% of the country’s GDP, in 2021.
Public finances also face another burden, as they have to provide about 15.5 billion dinars (or 5.6 billion dollars) for debt service, of which 10 billion dinars (or 3. $6 billion) in foreign currency.
