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February 20, 2023

Tunisia Expels European Trade Union Official Amid Crackdown by President Kais Saied
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Tunisian President Kais Saied has ordered Europe's top trade union
official to leave the country after she took part in a protest organized
by a powerful labor union Saturday. This is the secretary general of
Tunisia's General Labor Union, Othman Jalouli, who spoke at the protest.

Othman Jalouli: "There is an inability of the government and the
authorities to put the country on the right track on the economic,
social and political levels. Today there is a campaign aimed at
undermining the union and silencing the voice of workers, with the
intention of passing unpopular policies."

The U.N.'s human rights chief last week warned against a mounting
crackdown in Tunisia, where President Saied's government has arrested
officials from the main opposition party Ennahda, former ministers,
judges, lawyers and the head of a radio station. In July 2021, Saied
dismissed the government, declared rule by decree and vowed to rewrite
Tunisia's constitution.


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