Pro-Saied protest targets Tunisia’s influential union

Hundreds of President Kais Saied’s supporters rallied outside the headquarters of Tunisia’s powerful UGTT union, demanding that he suspend the organisation after a recent transport strike paralysed the country, as reported by The New Arab & agencies on August 8th.

For Saied, supporters in his favour come at a change of pace considering in recent weeks the mounting displeasure with his presidency, resulting in mass protests against him. The demonstration reflected mounting concern among activists and opposition figures that Saied might target one of the last major independent institutions in Tunisia.

Since taking sweeping powers in 2021, Saied has dissolved the elected parliament, begun ruling by decree, suspended the Supreme Judicial Council, and removed dozens of judges, moves the opposition calls a coup. He has defended these steps as lawful measures to end political chaos.

Crowds at the rally shouted “The people want the union to be suspended!” and urged the president to act against what they called “union gangs”.

The UGTT accused criminal groups of attacking its headquarters and alleged that they had recruited children for the assault. Spokesman Sami Tahri claimed the authorities had orchestrated the pro-Saied rally.

Union members staged a counter-demonstration, chanting “The union will remain steadfast and independent.” Police intervened to keep the two sides apart.

Tahri said the UGTT’s leadership would meet soon to decide its next steps.

The protest came days after a three-day nationwide transport strike led by the union halted land travel and reaffirmed its capacity to mobilise action despite an increasingly Saied-dominated political scene.

All the while, rights groups say the president has weakened opposition forces and civil society since 2021, jailed senior opposition politicians, and tightened control over the judiciary.

The UGTT, instrumental in Tunisia’s post-revolution democratic transition, has openly opposed Saied’s concentration of power. While it initially backed his 2021 closure of parliament, the union rejected his later measures, calling them an attempt to cement one-man rule.

The New Arab & agencies, Maghrebi.org