Glowing faces, hands literally on top of each other. President Kais Saied, Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission President), Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and our Prime Minister Mark Rutte had arranged it well last July, they thought. Tunisia would receive 1 billion euros to limit the flow of migration from the North African country to Europe. In addition, the money was also intended to invest in the country, so that the weak economy could be strengthened.
The question is what the deal still represents, now that President Saied is opposing the first support package of 127 million euros that Europe is releasing. He himself does not provide complete clarity about why he refuses the Brussels millions. He would like to get more money, but Saied denies that.
“The man is unpredictable, does not show the back of his tongue. The fact that Saied is now rearing up mainly has to do with the International Monetary Fund,” explains the Dutch-Tunisian journalist Faïrouz ben Salah. “This IMF is ready with a loan of 1.8 billion euros, but that money is subject to strict conditions. I mention abolishing food subsidies or cutting back on civil servants. If Saied accepts these measures, he will sign his political death warrant. The population will not accept this, the country is almost bankrupt, people are having a hard time.”