Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed ordered, Saturday evening, February 18, the expulsion of the highest European trade union official. The authorities accuse her of interference after statements she made during a demonstration in the city of Sfax, organized by the UGTT union. This new episode illustrates the importance of the showdown between the powerful Tunisian trade union center and the head of state, in an increasingly tense climate in the country.
” Flagrant interference in our internal affairs. It is with these words that the Tunisian presidency on Saturday denounced the declarations of Esther Lynch, the general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. During the day, the highest trade union official in the European Union took part in the demonstration in Sfax, which brought together thousands of trade unionists at the call of the mighty Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT).
In her speech, Esther Lynch asked the Tunisian government to free the union leaders and to negotiate with the UGTT to find solutions to the country’s political and economic crisis. Unpleasant remarks to the ears of the president Kais Saiedwhich leaves the Irish woman twenty-four hours to leave Tunisian territory.
The UGTT condemned this expulsion. The standoff between the country’s largest trade union center and the head of state reached its climax with the arrest of trade union leader Anis Kaabi on 31 January. The situation is increasingly tense in Tunisia, while arrests are increasing in political circles, media and judicial.
► To read also: Tunisia: tension is skyrocketing between the country’s main union and President Kaïs Saïed