France's Mélenchon calls for an end of 'Saied's dictatorship' in Tunisia
France's Mélenchon calls for an end of 'Saied's dictatorship' in Tunisia
Born in Morocco, the seventy-one-year-old socialist made the North African issues his political signature for decades. However, his takes on the region, usually, have been criticised for being "pro-colonialist."
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"In Tunisia, a new dictatorship is emerging," the French politician said. [Getty]
French opposition figure Jean Luc Mélenchon called on Paris to intervene in Tunisia as arrests against opposition figures mount in the North African country.
"In Tunisia, a new dictatorship is emerging. The workers' union UGTT and now the free radios and the lawyers are worried. The France of freedoms must mobilise," tweeted the ex-candidate who ran for the French presidency.
Alerte.
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) February 13, 2023
En #Tunisie c'est une nouvelle dictature qui se dessine. Le syndicat des ouvriers UGTT et maintenant les radios libres et les avocats sont inquiétés.
La France des libertés doit se mobiliser.
Over the last few days, prosecutions against President Kais Saied's opponents spiked with the targeting of at least five of Saied's critics.
The arrests of former justice minister Noureddine Bhiri and Mosaique FM director Noureddine Boutar on Monday night were the latest in Saied's series of arrests against senior politicians, journalists and lawyers.
Over the weekend, Tunisian authorities also arrested tycoon Kamel Eltaief, former top Ennahda figure Abdelhamid Jelassi and political activist Khayam Turki.
However, the French politician's anti-Saied tweet triggered wide criticism among Tunisians, in the diaspora and home, with many depicting it as "neo-colonialist."
"Very colonialist," "colonisation has ended," and "the last time France intervened, they wanted to occupy us," responded several Tunisian Twitter users, as many North Africans and French activists joined the conversation.
Born in Morocco, the seventy-one-year-old socialist made the North African issues his political signature for decades. However, his takes on the region came across to many of his critics as "pro-colonialist."
Last year, Mélenchon blamed President Macron's failing policy in North Africa for Algeria's adoption of English in its newly-issued banknotes.
"This is an Algerian banknote. The common language [French] is no longer [there]. Sadness," he tweeted on 2 November.
Moreover, Mélenchon's history of being "an apologist to Putin" casts a long shadow on the French politician's integrity despite his progressive eco-socialist political programme.
Nevertheless, several politicians from across the world warned about Saied's rising autocracy in Tunisia, including the US representative Ilhan Omar.
"If Tunisia's president does not reverse course, we should suspend all security aid, as is required by law," tweeted Omar two years ago after his Siaed's dramatic control over all extraordinary powers in July 2021. Omar's tweet surfaced after the recent arrests in Tunisia.
In an interview with The New Arab, Tunisian activist Raed Ben Maouia warned of a Libya-alike scenario in Tunisia as Saied strengthens his power grab and the opposition remains fractioned.
"That's why Tunisian opposition parties must unite and put pressure on Saied towards establishing an inclusive national dialogue in which all actors in the Tunisian political scene participate – citizens, parties, civil society, and national organisations," Raed said to TNA last September.
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