Tunisia must quickly find the "
way to democracy
", a senior White House official told President Kais Saied on Saturday, July 31, a few days after he seized executive power, notably suspending the activity of the government. Parliament for a month.
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In an hour-long call with the Tunisian president, President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed his support for "
Tunisian democracy based on fundamental rights, strong institutions and a commitment to the rule of law,
”according to a statement from the White House.
On July 25, Kais Saied froze Parliament for 30 days and sacked Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi. He ordered a crackdown on corruption targeting 460 businessmen and an investigation into alleged illegal funding of political parties. The US statement said the appeal "
focused on the critical need for Tunisian leaders to outline a swift return to Tunisia's democratic path
."
"
This will require the rapid formation of a new government, headed by a competent prime minister, in order to stabilize the Tunisian economy and deal with the Covid-19 pandemic
," the statement added. The country is paralyzed by an economic crisis marked by galloping inflation and high unemployment, as well as an upsurge in coronavirus infections.