On Monday, January 20, 2025, Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed chaired an importantmeeting at the Carthage Palace, attended by Prime Minister Kamel Madouri, Finance Minister Sihem Boughdiri Nemsia, and Social Affairs Minister Issam Lahmer.
Reaffirming the Social Role of the State
The meeting focused on the urgent necessity to restore the social role of the state, which has been neglected since the 1990s and further weakened after 2011.
President Saïed underscored the deteriorating public infrastructure, especially in education and healthcare, as Tunisians pursue fundamental rights like employment, freedom, and dignity. He criticized the unnecessary expansion of public institutions, pointing to cases where ministries and affiliated agencies consumed significant public funds—some reaching nearly 500 million dinars—without achieving their purposes.
Efficient Use of Public Resources
The president emphasised the importance of reallocating public funds to support vulnerable populations instead of maintaining underperforming institutions. He explained that his proposals were not aimed at privatizing public enterprises but at ensuring better management of resources to prevent waste.
Saïed also criticized the fragmented investment-related institutions, such as the Supreme Investment Council, the Tunisian Investment Agency, and multiple sector-specific agencies, which he deemed counterproductive and hindering wealth creation and equitable distribution.
A Call for Change
Reiterating his commitment to the goals of the Tunisian revolution, Saïed called for an end to unjust practices, tailored laws, and unwarranted privileges that have fostered corruption. He highlighted the need for austerity measures and reliance on national resources to reduce external dependencies.
The president rejected disguised outsourcing practices and advocated for justice-based governance as essential to ensuring national stability and fostering sustainable investment.
Toward Inclusive Growth
Saïed underscored that economic development should not rely on rent-seeking but should instead focus on fostering genuine national growth that profits all citizens. Revising public policies and rationalizing spending are key steps toward achieving these objectives.
This meeting underscores the president’s determination to prioritize justice, equity, and effective governance as the foundation for Tunisia’s social and economic revival.
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