TUNISI (TUNISIA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Almost 10 million Tunisians head to the polls today for a vote in which political observers say incumbent President Kais Saied, 61, is poised for victory amid what many have deemed a rollback in rights and freedoms as a number of his critics are behind bars, mounting criticism in Tunisia and abroad.
Saied, a little known law lecturer, was thrust to power in 2019. However, in 2021, he staged a sweeping power grab, jailing many of his critics. He dismissed the Islamist-led parliament and the following year he rewrote the constitution. Political experts consider this as a major step back for Tunisia, a country that long prided itself as the birthplace of the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011.
There have been no campaign rallies or public debates and nearly all the campaign posters in city streets have been of Saied.
Fourteen candidates were barred from joining the race, after election organizers ruled they had failed to provide enough signatures of endorsement, among other technicalities. Some have been jailed after being convicted of forging signatures.
Jailed opposition figures include Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Islamist-inspired opposition party Ennahdha, which dominated political life after the revolution.
Also detained is Abir Moussi, head of the Free Destourian Party, which critics accuse of wanting to bring back the ousted regime.
The result has been that Saied faces just two challengers, one of them, former lawmaker Zouhair Maghzaoui, a supporter of the president’s 2021 power grab who “remains associated” with him.
The second challenger, Ayachi Zammel, is also a former lawmaker and leads a small liberal party. His candidacy was approved by election organizers shortly before he was charged with and later convicted of forging voter endorsements. He currently faces more than 12 years in prison. The jail sentence doesn’t affect his candidacy.
The political outsider won by a landslide, with 73 percent of the vote in a second round runoff that saw turnout of 58 percent.
He had campaigned on a platform of strong government after nearly a decade of deadlock between Islamist and secular blocs since the 2011 revolution.
The final results of the presidential election will be announced by Nov 9, at the latest. Tunisia holds a presidential election every five years, with Saied having served as president since his election in 2019.
But the country’s economy struggled to find stability, and political infighting, terrorism and violence hampered progress. Unemployment is at 16%, among the highest in the region, and many of the country’s youth struggle to find jobs. Tunisia is still dependent on international lenders like the IMF, World Bank, and EU, owing over $9 billion. Talks for a $1.9 billion bailout package from the IMF have stalled, as Saied refuses to implement the required reforms – particularly unpopular ones, such as cutting subsidies on essential goods.
The country’s economic situation has driven an increasing number of Tunisians to risk their lives in perilous journeys to Europe.
While many Tunisians flee, the country also serves as a transit point for sub-Saharan African migrants seeking to reach Europe.
Saied’s government has responded with harsh anti-migrant policies, deporting many and dismantling makeshift camps.
On the international stage, Saied has publicly resisted Europès pressure to act as a “border guard” for migrants crossing the Mediterranean, despite agreements to cooperate on migration management.
Tunisia has also strengthened ties with Iran and China, securing investment for infrastructure projects. Nevertheless, European countries remain Tunisiàs primary trade partners, and the Saied administration continues to engage diplomatically with Europe.
– photo Ipa –
(ITALPRESS).
Tunisians head to the polls for a presidential election
Morocco, Ambassador Balla “Partnership? The ball is in Europe’s court”
ROME (ITALPRESS) – “The ball is now entirely in the European court. Europe must decide what it wants to do with the partnership with Morocco. We expect strong signals and concrete facts from the Commission and European countries on their determination to preserve this multidimensional partnership carefully built for more than sixty years. Morocco, which is seriously committed to this multidimensional partnership and which has consistently demonstrated its reliability over the years, will in no way tolerate its interests being jeopardized and it therefore falls to the European side to provide this partnership the necessary legal protection. Morocco cannot remain hostage to political tensions and wars of inter-European economic interests.” Youssef Balla, ambassador of Morocco to Italy, told Italpress.
“We need a calm and reliable partnership and we need to be reassured about the strategic choices that we have built together on the basis of mutual respect for the principles of international law, sovereignty, territorial integrity and mutual protection of interests. At a time when the Euro-Mediterranean region is weakened by challenges and risks of all kinds, Europe sends us, through this decision, a disconcerting signal that proves right those who predict its disengagement from this region in favor of external influences” added the Italian diplomat. “Morocco does not feel affected in any way by this ruling of the European Court, it is a European issue and between the Polisario, supported by Algeria and the EU,” Balla continued. “We observe, however, that this is a ruling based on purely political and in no way legal motivations and, furthermore, it exceeds the mandate of its jurisprudence strictly limited to the European scenario by allowing itself to express opinions that concern a non-European sovereign country. At the same time, it allows itself without embarrassment to usurp a role within international law reserved exclusively for the United Nations on the issue of the regional dispute over Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara.” “We are faced with legal frivolity and in any case Morocco has clearly declared it. No contractual commitment will be undertaken without scrupulous respect for the sovereignty and integrity of the entire Moroccan territory” he concluded.(ITALPRESS).
Foto: Italpress
Ruling in favour of Malta and six EU countries on the ‘return of vehicles’ rule
LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – Malta and six other EU member states have won a court ruling against a law that would have forced trucks and heavy vehicles to return to their country of origin every eight weeks.
The victory ends a four-year dispute against the ‘return of vehicles’ rule in the EU’s mobility package.
Malta, Poland, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania, Cyprus and Hungary argued that it unfairly burdened local companies with excessive costs.
The member states, many of them on Europe’s periphery, argued that the rules were protectionist and undermined their ability to compete in the free market.
The European Court of Justice ruled that the European Parliament and Council had “not established that they had sufficient information at their disposal when that measure was adopted to enable them to assess its proportionality”.
The Malta’s business lobby argued, while this was a relatively simple matter of crossing a land border for haulage companies across mainland Europe, it made things far costlier for Maltese haulage companies, who had to ferry their vehicles back to Malta. This process added “disproportionate additional costs to the road transport operators and consequently to business clients and end consumers” and placed Malta at a disadvantage.
Both the government and opposition in Malta expressed their satisfaction at the ECJ’s ruling.
The transport ministry said that the rule had been causing “logistical complications” and negatively impacting emissions and costs by forcing operators to undertake several unnecessary journeys to comply with the rules.
Meanwhile, Nationalist MEP Peter Agius said the ruling could have “wider political repercussions” in addressing similar injustices in maritime and air travel, such as the “unfair and the equally disproportionate ETS Maritime scheme which is now favouring north African ports to the prejudice of Malta Freeport”.(ITALPRESS).
Foto: trl
Morocco “unconcerned with EU ruling agriculture and fishing agreements”
RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Kingdom of Morocco does not consider itself in any way affected by the decision pronounced on Friday by the Court of Justice of the European Union on agricultural and fisheries agreements. This was said by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans residing abroad, underlining that Morocco did not participate in any phase of this procedure, as reported by the MAP agency. “Morocco is not a party into this matter, which concerns the European Union on the one hand and the “polisario” supported by Algeria on the other. Morocco did not participate in any of the phases of this procedure and, therefore, does not consider itself affected in any way by the decision”, specified the ministry in a press release. However, the same source continued, “the content of this decision contains obvious legal errors and suspected errors of fact”, adding that “this denotes at best a total unawareness of the reality of the case, if not a political prejudice”.
In this line, the Ministry claims, “the Court has even allowed itself to replace the competent UN bodies and contradict their consolidated positions and approaches. Furthermore, the British High Court, in a very similar case, had demonstrated greater discernment, impartiality and respect for legal foundations.” According to the statement, “Morocco requests that the Council, the European Commission and the EU Member States take the necessary measures to respect their international commitments, preserve the results of the partnership and provide the Kingdom with the legal security it needs as legitimately entitled, as a partner of the EU on various strategic issues”. In this context, the same source concluded, “Morocco reiterates its constant position not to sign any agreement or legal instrument that does not respect its territorial integrity and national unity”.
– Photo MAP –
(ITALPRESS).
Sicily Region Mission in Dubai, Tamajo “We bring our excellence to the UAE”
PALERMO (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Strengthening trade relations between Sicily and the United Arab Emirates was the main objective of a meeting organized by the regional department of Productive Activities held in Dubai. Nine companies from the construction, cosmetics and agri-food sectors participated in the initiative. Present were representatives of the Chambers of Commerce of Dubai and Abu Dhabi and the Italian ambassador, Lorenzo Fanara.
Edy Tamajo, the regional councilor for Productive Activities said, “This mission represents a fundamental step to enhance our entrepreneurial excellence in international markets. Sicily is a land rich in skills and high quality products and now we have laid the foundations for new opportunities for the development and collaboration with economic operators in the Emirates. The dialogue we have established is only the beginning of a path that can generate important synergies between our companies and those of the Emirates”.
According to the official statement, during the meeting, ways to make interaction and commercial cooperation between Sicilian and Arab business entities easier were discussed.
The mission is part of the initiatives promoted by the regional department to encourage the internationalization of Sicilian companies and stimulate the economic growth of the territory through a more incisive presence on foreign markets, underlined the statement.
Tamajo had a private meeting with the members of the Chamber of Abu Dhabi and the ambassador “to bring the two countries closer”. Subsequently, he held a meeting with the Italian ambassador to Abu Dhabi, Lorenzo Fanara.
– photo ufficio stampa Assessorato Attività Produttive Regione
Sicilia –
(ITALPRESS).
One-third of the Maltese national airline will be privatized
LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – Malta’s Finance Minister Clyde Caruana announced that one-third of the Maltese national airline, KM Malta Airlines will be privatized as one of the conditions imposed by the European Commission as part of an agreement that enabled Malta to establish the new airline carrier.
The Maltese government is reportedly seeking an investor with direct involvement in the aviation industry, which would allow KM Malta Airlines to benefit from the investor’s expertise and economies of scale.
In an interview with The Times of Malta, Minister Caruana explained that approximately “30% to 35%” of the airline will be sold to the private sector. He empathized “it has to happen” while expressed his hope that this will occur rapidly.
KM Malta Airlines was officially granted an Air Operator Certificate and an Air Operator Licence by the Maltese Civil Aviation Directorate last year, following the decision to replace the struggling Air Malta.
The new airline, began operations on 31 March 2024. KM Malta Airlines started operations with around a third of Air Malta’s workforce.
The transition from Air Malta to KM Malta Airlines followed decades of mismanagement at Air Malta, which culminated in the European Commission rejecting a proposed €290 million state aid package for the airline. The Commission cited non-compliance with EU state aid rules. However, the Maltese taxpayers were left to absorb Air Malta’s €356 million in accumulated losses.
(ITALPRESS).
Tunisia, mass protest against President Saied’s “authoritarian rule”
LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (MNA/ITALPRESS) – The opposition and civil society groups in Tunisia will be holding a mass protest on Friday against what they describe as President Kais Saied’s authoritarian rule, and said they would continue escalation and demonstrations, just four days before the presidential election.
Opposition and civil society groups have been voicing concerns about a potentially rigged election, designed to keep President Kais Saied in power. Meanwhile, there is a growing opposition anger against President Kais Saied, whose critics accuse him also of using the judiciary to sideline his opponents. Presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel was sentenced to 12 years in prison by a Tunisian court. This was the third prison sentence imposed on Zammel in two weeks. He is one of just two candidates permitted to stand against Saied. Three other high profile opposition figures were barred. Abdessattar Massoudi, Zammel’s lawyer, said that Zammel was sentenced to 12 years in prison by Tunis court on charges of document falsification. Massoudi described the verdict as “unfair and a farce”. Zammel, head of the opposition Azimoun party, has been jailed since last month on charges of falsifying voter signatures on his candidacy paperwork, accusations he described as manufactured by Saied’s government. He has been allowed to continue to stand in the election while jailed. Political tensions in the North African country have risen ahead of the Oct. 6 election since an electoral commission named by Saied disqualified three other prominent candidates last month, amid protests by opposition and civil society groups. Tunisia was the only Arab country to emerge with a peaceful democracy from the 2011 “Arab Spring” protests against autocratic rulers across the Middle East and North Africa. But since being elected in 2019, Saied has gradually amassed greater powers, arguing that he needs them to combat a corrupt elite. He dissolved the elected parliament and began ruling by decree in 2021, a move the opposition described as a coup.(ITALPRESS).
Foto: Agenzia Fotogramma
Evacuation plan for Maltese soldiers in southern Lebanon
VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The Maltese government confirmed that a plan has been drawn up together with the Irish authorities to evacuate seven Maltese soldiers stationed in Lebanon close to the Israeli border after the war in the region dramatically intensified as from last Tuesday, when Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel.
Malta and Ireland are both neutral countries. The operation forms part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission. The mission is known as the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), that has around 10,500 peacekeepers from 50 contributing countries.
Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said that the soldiers, who voluntarily signed up for the six-month peacekeeping mission, are safe and are being constantly monitored. The Maltese soldiers are in Camp Shamrock, alongside Irish, Polish and Hungarian troops.
“We are following what is happening in Lebanon and are very concerned with the situation. We have also drawn an evacuation plan with the Irish authorities in case we are forced to get the soldiers out of Lebanon and take them to a secure place before bringing them back to Malta.”
The Maltese soldiers are stationed in Lebanon, around seven kilometres from the Israeli border as part of a broader international effort aimed at maintaining stability in a region marked by conflict.
– Photo Malta Army –
(ITALPRESS).
