Today, the issue of whether to lift subsidies or not persists to be a matter of concern for the majority of the Tunisian people. This is apparent from the remarks made by the President of the Republic and several officials, stressing that there is no intention to lift subsidies on basic commodities. President Saied addressed this issue once again in his recent meeting with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Commerce.
Political analyst Salah al-Din al-Jurshi told Tunisie Numérique that citizens measure matters not based on statements from the head of state or ministers but rather on their understanding of subsidies to prices. According to al-Jurshi, the current prices in Tunisia have become excruciating, and despite the authorities’ assurances that they won’t withdraw support for the poor, in practice, the poor are encountering severe financial challenges due to rising prices.
Similarly, al-Jurshi stated that the middle class, once a source of pride for Tunisia, is experiencing a significant decrease in its purchasing power and overall financial capabilities. This has transformed the debate about whether to remove subsidies into a theoretical conversation, as in reality, the level of support has dwindled considerably, according to al-Jurshi’s assessment.