Thousands rally for biggest protest in years against Tunisia’s Saied

Unions and opposition groups unite to demonstrate against worsening living conditions and restrictions on political freedoms.

Tunisians joined the latest protest on Saturday against President Kais Saied and the high cost of living [Zoubeir Souissi/Reuters]

Thousands of Tunisians have marched through the capital to protest against President Kais Saied, worsening living conditions and restrictions on political freedoms.

The latest demonstration in Tunis on Saturday was led by the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), an influential trade union federation, alongside opposition parties and civil society organisations.

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It was the largest protest against Saied in years, bringing together political opponents whose longstanding divisions have weakened their ability to challenge his rule.

The AFP news agency reported that more than 3,000 people were on the march, but the total could not be independently confirmed.

Protesters gathered along Habib Bourguiba Avenue, a major street in central Tunis, as hundreds of police deployed across the capital. Several surrounding roads were closed.

The crowd included lawyers, doctors, journalists and the unemployed, as well as activists and members of parties from across the political spectrum. They demanded the release of detained government critics and an end to restrictions on trade union rights.

Placards reading “No democracy without freedoms” and “No dignity with poverty” reflected the political and economic grievances driving the demonstration.

Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) Secretary-General Salah Eddine Salmi and other demonstrators protest against President Kais Saied in Tunis on Saturday [Zoubeir Souissi/Reuters]

Protesters also revived a slogan demanding the government’s removal, widely heard during Tunisia’s 2011 uprising.

Addressing the rally on Saturday, UGTT leader Salah Eddine Salmi criticised the concentration of political power in the presidency and said “silence will no longer be acceptable”.

The political demands came alongside mounting frustration over the cost of basic goods and declining purchasing power.

Prolonged difficulties

Tunisia has struggled with prolonged economic difficulties, deteriorating public services, recurring water and electricity cuts, as well as shortages of medicines and other essentials.

Demonstrator Yassine Gharseli, who travelled from Sfax, about 250km south of Tunis, said repeated disruptions to basic services had deepened his frustration with the authorities.

“I came from Sfax to stand up for my freedom,” he told the Reuters news agency at the demo, expressing his determination to continue speaking out.

Saturday’s march followed other demonstrations over similar grievances.

On August 20 , protesters in Tunis rallied against rising prices and shortages of basic goods.

Last month, fuel transport workers went on a two-day strike over wages and working conditions, led by a union federation affiliated with the UGTT.

The latest protest over economic hardship and restrictions on freedoms in Tunis on Saturday [Zoubeir Souissi/Reuters]

The demands recall the uprising that ousted longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, which helped ignite protests across the Arab world.

Tunisia subsequently held competitive elections and expanded political freedoms, but unemployment and struggling public services remain persistent sources of anger.

Saied came to power promising an alternative to that political system; however, in 2021, he suspended parliament and dismissed the government, saying he was confronting corruption and political deadlock.

He later dissolved parliament and a new constitution increased presidential powers in 2022.

工会和反对派团体联合起来，示威游行，抗议日益恶化的生活条件和对政治自由的限制。

周六，突尼斯民众加入了最新一轮抗议活动，反对总统凯斯·赛义德和高昂的生活成本。[Zoubeir Souissi/路透社]

数千名突尼斯民众走上首都街头，抗议总统凯斯·赛义德导致生活条件恶化和政治自由受到限制。

周六在突尼斯举行的最新示威活动由突尼斯总工会（UGTT）领导，该工会是一个有影响力的工会联合会，反对党和民间社会组织也参与其中。

突尼斯（共 2 个问题，第 1 个）：凯斯·赛义德在七年内取得了哪些经济成就？

突尼斯放宽对“虚假新闻”的处罚力度（共2条，此为第2条）。究竟发生了什么变化？为什么是现在？

这是多年来针对赛义德的最大规模抗议活动，它将长期以来分裂的政治对手聚集在一起，削弱了他们挑战赛义德统治的能力。

法新社报道称，有超过3000人参加了游行，但具体人数无法得到独立证实。

抗议者聚集在突尼斯市中心的主要街道哈比卜·布尔吉巴大道上，数百名警察部署在首都各处。周边几条道路被封锁。

人群中包括律师、医生、记者、失业者，以及来自各政治派别的活动人士和政党成员。他们要求释放被拘留的政府批评人士，并结束对工会权利的限制。

“没有自由就没有民主”和“没有贫困就没有尊严”等标语反映了引发示威活动的政治和经济不满。

突尼斯总工会（UGTT）秘书长萨拉赫·埃丁·萨尔米和其他示威者周六在突尼斯抗议总统凯斯·赛义德。[祖拜尔·苏伊西/路透社]

抗议者还重提了要求政府下台的口号，该口号在 2011 年突尼斯起义期间广为流传。

周六，乌干达总工会领导人萨拉赫·埃丁·萨尔米在集会上发表讲话，批评了总统府政治权力的集中，并表示“沉默将不再被接受”。

随着基本商品价格上涨和购买力下降，民众的不满情绪日益高涨，与此同时，政治诉求也随之而来。

长期困难

突尼斯长期饱受经济困难、公共服务恶化、反复停水停电以及药品和其他必需品短缺的困扰。

来自突尼斯以南约 250 公里的斯法克斯的示威者亚辛·加尔塞利表示，基本服务的反复中断加深了他对当局的失望和不满。

“我从斯法克斯来到这里，是为了捍卫我的自由，”他在示威活动中告诉路透社，表达了他继续发声的决心。

周六的游行是此前针对类似诉求举行的其他示威活动之一。

8月20日，突尼斯爆发抗议活动，民众集会反对物价上涨和基本商品短缺。

上个月，燃料运输工人因工资和工作条件问题举行了为期两天的罢工，罢工由隶属于 UGTT 的工会联合会领导。

周六，突尼斯爆发了最新一轮抗议活动，抗议经济困境和自由受限。[Zoubeir Souissi/路透社]

这些诉求让人想起 2011 年推翻长期执政总统宰因·阿比丁·本·阿里 (Zine El Abidine Ben Ali) 的起义，这场起义也点燃了阿拉伯世界的抗议浪潮。

突尼斯随后举行了竞争性选举，扩大了政治自由，但失业和公共服务困难仍然是民众持续愤怒的根源。

赛义德上台时承诺提供一种替代当时政治体制的方案；然而，在 2021 年，他暂停了议会并解散了政府，称他正在应对腐败和政治僵局。

后来他解散了议会，2022 年颁布的新宪法扩大了总统的权力。