The Tunisian General Union of Workers (UGTT), the country’s most powerful union with more than one million members, has rejected the holding of the country’s upcoming legislative elections and warned of a possible general strike in the harshest criticism of President Kais Saied since he arrogated total power to himself last year in what his opponents have described as a self-coup d’état.
«We are heading toward elections that have no flavor and no color. Elections that result from a Constitution that did not give room for consultation and that did not get the approval of the majority,» lamented union leader Nuredin Tabubi in a speech to thousands of supporters last Saturday on the controversial legislative elections called for the 17th of this month, boycotted among others by the Islamist party Ennahda or the opposition National Salvation Front, which brings together dozens of parties and civil organizations.
Saied’s critics argue in this sense that the elections emerge from an autocratic regime and that this vote is nothing more than an excuse to consolidate his power with a weakened Parliament, all this in the midst of a serious economic crisis.
The opposition, in fact, already boycotted the constitutional referendum of July, which strengthened the powers of the president and reduced the weight of the Parliament, which was dominated by Ennahda at the time when Saied proceeded to its dissolution nearly a year and a half ago.
Tabubi has warned Prime Minister Najla Buden’s government that he will fight any move that «attacks basic needs and starves people,» before condemning «backroom deals» during ongoing aid talks with the International Monetary Fund.
«We will fight by all possible legitimate and militant means,» threatened the leader of a union that opposes plans to privatize state enterprises providing public services (water, electricity, transport) and the abolition of subsidies on food and energy commodities.
Tabubi has warned that «all the country’s economic indicators are in the red» and criticized the Buden government for a management characterized by «indebtedness and lack of transparency». That is why he announced his intention to convene the executive body of the UGTT «before the end of the year» to examine a series of options, including the possibility of declaring a general strike, according to declarations reported by the Tunisien Numerique portal.
