Tunisia’s parliament held a plenary session on Tuesday to discuss a motion demanding the French state to apologize to the Tunisian people for crimes committed during and post the colonial era.
Only 76 lawmakers attended the session, in light of fears that the Tunisian-French relations might be affected by the motion.
The motion was put forth by the small opposition Islamist coalition, Al-Karama, which has 19 deputies of the 217-seat legislature.
Al-Karama and Qalb Tounes (Heart of Tunisia) party confirmed submitting a request for consultation and contacted the President and the Prime Minister to know their positions over the issue.
Their late response was seen as an “acceptance in principle,” knowing that the parliament has the full authority to vote on the submitted motion.
No official stance has yet been issued by the presidency or the premiership.
Head of Qalb Tounes Osama Khelifi requested that outcomes of Tuesday’s session be sent to the president, since he has the power in this regard, in accordance with the 2014’s constitution.
While more than one political party hinted that France is Tunisia’s first economic partner. They considered that insisting on its apology “will have negative effects on French investments in Tunisia and on the largest Tunisian community in France.”
The motion called on France to apologize for “assassinations, rapes, torture, forced exile and displacement, looting of natural resources and private property and outright support for tyranny and dictatorship.”
It also demanded that the French state compensates the Tunisian state and all those affected by the aforementioned crimes in a fair and remunerative manner, and in accordance with the international laws and norms.
“The apology would allow turning the page of the colonial era and establishing a more solid and reliable relationship,” it read.
