The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has called on Tunisia's President Kais Saied to establish a clearly-defined timeline for the country’s return to a constitutional order based on the separation of powers.
Saied suspended parliament and seized near total control in July.
“I spoke again to President Saied, from Washington before coming back to Europe, to pass a clear message about the importance of preserving the democratic acquis, respecting separation of power and resuming institutional normalcy,” Borrell told lawmakers in a debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The EU official added: “Yes, there is a new Head of Government [Najla Bouden Romdhane] and a new set of Ministers, but with different powers that the ones that the Constitution grants them.”
Saied is under international pressure to announce a clear road map for a return to constitutional politics. Last week, he announced a new government but gave no indication that he was ready to relinquish control.
“We need a clear schedule, in order to go back to the normal Constitutional provisions and we will follow closely the impact of the decisions, based on concrete facts,” Borrell concluded.
Meanwhile, German Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office Niels Annen kicked off a visit to Tunisia for talks with high-ranking officials and civil society activists.
A source from Germany’s embassy in Tunis told the German News Agency (dpa) that Annen’s visit aims to discuss with all political parties and civil society representatives ways to end the country’s crisis.
Annen is also expected to discuss economic and financial issues.
