Tunisia: former presidential advisor joins opposition

A former advisor to Tunisian President Kais Saied has joined the opposition Citizens against the Coup movement and called for the country to be saved from the “stalemate” that the president has placed it in.

“Tunisia today is isolated internationally, especially after the statements issued by the European Union, the United States of America and the Group of Seven (G7) that agree that there can be no future cooperation with Tunisia without the return of constitutional legitimacy,” explained Abderraouf Bettaieb. “Instead of carrying out reforms and negotiating rationally with the international community, we met [their positions] with condescending rhetoric under the slogan of national sovereignty.”

He made his comment during a press conference organised by the movement on Monday. Although national sovereignty is a “red line”, he added, Tunisia has relations, treaties and political and moral commitments, and cannot hide behind the sovereignty issue, not least because these countries provided aid and support for 10 years after the revolution.

Bettaieb resigned last year after disagreements with Rashida Al-Nefer, the former media advisor to the president. She also later resigned, prompting observers to talk about a “power struggle” inside the Carthage Palace.

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