Summary:

On 29 May 2024, senior leaders of the Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail (UGTT) met to discuss the current political situation in Tunisia, calling for the announcement of election dates, the release of “prisoners of conscience” and reconsideration of the current applications of Decree 54. 

                                     [mepr-show if=”loggedout”] Please login or purchase an InBrief membership to view the rest of this report [/mepr-show] [mepr-show if=”loggedin”]

In a press release following the meeting of the UGTT’s Administration Commission, the UGTT condemned attacks on journalists, lawyers and bloggers under Decree 54 and called for the repeal of the controversial legal framework. 

Also on 29 May 2024, a group of 57 MPs submitted a request to accelerate plans for the parliament to examine Decree 54. This was the second request to accelerate the examination of the decree, the first having been submitted in February. 

Outlook: 

Following the recent arrests of lawyers and media commentators that drew international attention, pressure has grown rapidly from domestic political voices to review and even repeal altogether the controversial Decree 54. 

The recent arrests have given those in opposition to Decree 54 greater momentum than previously observed, pressing the conversation beyond the bounds of activists and international NGOs and, perhaps, into a more mainstream debate on the merits of the law. 

While pressure may be growing, the majority of parliament likely remains hesitant to take up a more aggressive review of the law, hoping to avoid the ire of the administration which has favored the use of Decree 54 as a legal framework to target opposition voices. 

[/mepr-show]

Explore our services or speak with our team of North Africa-based risk experts.