Tunisia-Meeting between President of the Republic and Prime Minister regarding the country’s challenges

On Monday, August 7, 2023, President of the Republic of Tunisia, Kaïs Saïed, welcomed Prime Minister Ahmed El-Hachani at the Carthage Palace. During this meeting, the two heads examined various topics relating to the general situation of the country and the progress of government work in all sectors.

President Saïed emphasised the significance of formulating a bill aimed at cleaning the administration of those who have illegally infiltrated for more than a decade and who have become obstacles hampering the functioning of the State. This approach is part of the desire to ensure the appropriate functioning of institutions and to strengthen governance.

Another major topic discussed at this meeting was the surge in prices which impacts both producers and consumers. The president underscored the fact that some entities act as “distribution channels”, taking advantage of the situation to sow hunger among citizens, while enjoying the support of corrupt networks. The president asserted that the state was not going to sit idly by in the face of this situation and that the law would be applied to everyone. He likewise called for the convergence of efforts by all state institutions to thwart these plots.

In terms of governance, the head of the state insisted on the necessity to select officials according to their sense of responsibility, because according to him, competence cannot be the sole selection criterion.

The Head of State underlined that government work should be harmonized because Tunisia is a single nation, where each sector completes the other within the framework of a coherent state policy.

During this meeting, it was also a question of confronting the smear campaigns directed against Tunisia, arriving from actors who question its national independence or who attempt to present it as an oppressed nation. The President voiced his commitment to human dignity towards irregular migrants, underlining the humane treatment they receive in Tunisia, unlike what they experience in many other nations. The suspicious silence of certain international organizations and associations, which claim to protect them but only disseminate incorrect information disconnected from reality, was furthermore discussed.