At a time when Tunisia is going through a serious economic and social crisis, the trade union center and civil society wanted to mobilize to bring the country out of paralysis. A demonstration was held in front of the parliament in Tunis on Friday, December 18. Divided, the assembly struggles to advance the legislative process necessary for reforms.
With our correspondent in Tunis, Michel Picard
From the strength of its Nobel Peace Prize, received in 2015 for its role as a centerpiece of national dialogue, the UGTT union (General Union of Tunisian Workers) intends to seat the various actors at the same table. An idea that pleases Sidi Slim:
“The UGTT presented the President with a project to solve all these problems, with very specific points. The UGTT is the driving force behind all of this. Otherwise, there are two solutions: to change the increasingly worsening political and economic situation; or it’s a riot. ”
The fear of a fall similar to that of Lebanon
To revive the country, the General Union of Tunisian Workers can be, according to Mohamed Ben Mahmoud, president of the Tunisian Social and Solidarity Economy Network, an alternative to the leaders in place:
“I believe that it is thanks to the UGTT that the country did not fall into total terrorist Islamism. So it’s a balancing item. If it is well surrounded and supported by independent and expert civil society, we can create an alternative and propose solutions. ”
And there is an urgent need, according to retired academic Ahmed Maouli: “We are very close to the situation in Lebanon. From the point of view of unemployment rate, debt rate, economic paralysis, lack of investment, economic growth … The country is in danger. “
