TUNIS, Tunisia – Tunisian President Kais Saied accused unnamed politicians of using refuge overseas to “plot” against the state, implicitly targeting one of his predecessors based in France.
“Tunisia is a free and independent state and there can be no interference in its affairs,” he said at the first meeting of a new cabinet following his July power grab.
“Some have used refuge abroad to attack Tunisian interests,” he added according to AFP.
Without naming him, Saied referred to a speech by France-based former president Moncef Marzouki, who has called the president’s moves a “coup d’etat”.
Saied Thursday accused “traitors that seek refuge overseas” of threatening Tunisia’s sovereignty and urged the new Justice Minister Leila Jaffel to open an enquiry.
“He that did this will have his diplomatic passport revoked as he is the greatest enemy of Tunisia,” he said.
“He cannot use this privilege to visit capitals and damage Tunisian interests.”
Saied also met US Ambassador Donald Blome Thursday, coinciding with a congressional meeting entitled “Tunisia: Examining the State of Democracy and Next Steps for US Policy”.
The president “informed (Blome) of the State of Tunisia’s annoyance at the situation in Tunisia being included in the proceedings of the American Congress”, the presidency’s Facebook page said.
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