Tunesien: Gewerkschaft gegen Präsidenten

In Tunesien bahnt sich ein Machtkampf zwischen der einflussreichen Gewerkschaft UGTT und dem immer autokratischer regierenden Präsidenten an, während das Land immer tiefer in eine ökonomische Krise rutscht:

Tunisia’s powerful labour union has issued its clearest challenge to President Kais Saied yet, rejecting his political and economic agenda and saying it will not tolerate what it called a threat to democracy.

“We no longer accept the current path because of its ambiguity and individual rule, and the unpleasant surprises it hides for the fate of the country and democracy,” Noureddine Taboubi, leader of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), said in a speech to thousands of supporters on Saturday.(...)

Last month, the union called for a general strike in the region of Sfax, a day after a demonstrator died from inhaling tear gas fired to disperse protests against the reopening of a landfill site.

It demanded that the perpetrators be held accountable.

The UGTT has proven capable of paralysing the economy with strikes that closed airports, public transport, ports and government offices.

Die UGTT, die auch beim Sturz von Ex-Präsident ben Ali im Januar 2011 eine zentrale Rolle gespielt hat, lehnt die anstehenden Parlamentswahlen zu diesem Zeitpunkt öffentlich ab und schließt sich damit dem Boykottaufruf fast aller Parteien im Land an:

"We will not abide by secret agreements the government has with the International Monetary Fund, and the workers will stand up to it," Taboubi said of the deal.

Most of Tunisia's political parties are boycotting the poll. They argue that the new parliament would lack any real power to hold the president accountable.