The American charge d’affaires was summoned on Friday by the Tunisian diplomacy who denounced “interference” and statements “unacceptable” of American officials who this week criticized the referendum on the Constitution held on Monday and the political evolution of the country.
Natasha Franceschi, who serves as the main official of the embassy, had to go to the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs “after the communiqué of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Anthony Blinken) on the political process in Tunisia, and after the unacceptable statements of the American ambassador-designate in Tunisia”Joey Hood, according to a press release from the Tunisian ministry.
Minister Othman Jerandi denounced in the statement “unacceptable interference in internal national affairs”and expressed “Tunisian amazement after these declarations and the press release (by Anthony Blinken) which do not at all reflect the reality of the situation in Tunisia”.
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A few hours earlier, Minister Jerandi had met President Kais Saied, who expressed his “rejection of any form of interference in the internal affairs of the country”pointing out that “Tunisia’s sovereignty and independence are above all else”. Kais Saied was referring to a series of statements coming mainly from the United States criticizing the process that led to a referendum on a new Constitution, approved Monday by nearly 95% of Tunisians but with a very low turnout of 30.5%.
As early as Tuesday, State Department spokesman Ned Price reported“concerns” american “on the fact that the new Constitution includes weakened counterbalance mechanisms, which could compromise the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms”.
On Wednesday, Joey Hood appointed ambassador to Tunis but who has yet to be confirmed, lamented before the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, “an alarming erosion of democratic standards and fundamental freedoms over the past year, (in Tunisia) that have mortgaged many hard-won gains since toppling a dictator in 2011”. “President Kais Saied’s actions over the past year to suspend democratic governance and consolidate executive power have raised serious questions”he added.
On Thursday, a new declaration by Secretary of State Blinken ended up triggering the wrath of Tunisia. On his twitter account, he said support “Strongly the democratic aspirations of the Tunisian people”pointing out that a “Inclusive and transparent reform process is crucial to restore the confidence of millions of Tunisians both those who did not participate in the referendum, and those who opposed the new Constitution”.
The United States is increasingly critical of Kais Saïed, who seized all power on July 25, 2021, arguing that the country was ungovernable.