Erdogan’s call to Saied triggers pushback among Tunisian public

SMA NEWS – TUNIS

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied in a phone call on Monday that the continuation of the Tunisian parliament’s work was important for the region, his office said, after Saied suspended parliament and dismissed his premier.

In a statement, Turkey’s presidency said Erdogan “emphasised that the parliament of Tunisia … maintaining operations despite all difficulties was important for the democracy of Tunisia and the region,” adding that the work of the parliament was “vital.”

“Erdogan stated that it was very valuable for the democracy of Tunisia to be protected, for its freedoms to be guaranteed,” it said.

Erdogan’s statements unleashed the ire of many Tunisians, who took to social media to overwhelmingly condemn Turkey’s meddling in their country’s affairs.

Some social media users referred to Erdogan’s autocratic rule in Turkey and his regime’s sweeping political crackdown on opposition, activists and journalists.