https://arab.news/vn2na
- 鈥榃e can鈥檛 afford the radicalization of the Mediterranean,鈥� Antonio Tajani tells conference attended by Arab News
- Rome striving to ensure Tunisia 鈥榙oesn鈥檛 become a failed state,鈥� pushing for IMF loan
ROME: The international community runs the risk of 鈥渉aving the Muslim Brotherhood create instability鈥� in Tunisia if the country is not promptly granted 鈥渟ubstantial financial help,鈥� Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said at a conference attended by Arab News.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 afford the radicalization of the Mediterranean,鈥� he added, saying Tunisia is on the verge of 鈥渆conomic collapse,鈥� and negotiations for a loan of nearly $1.9 billion from the International Monetary Fund have 鈥渟talled鈥� over President Kais Saied鈥檚 recent policies.
Elected in 2019, Saied dissolved Parliament in July 2021, reformed the country鈥檚 constitution to increase his presidential powers, and then held a referendum followed by parliamentary elections with a very low turnout.
At the beginning of this year he cracked down on dissent, arresting politicians, labor union members, judges and members of civil society.
The economic situation in Tunisia is dire, leading more and more people to try to reach Italy on small boats.
Tajani said Italy is 鈥渢he most interested鈥� in ensuring that 鈥淭unisia solves its problems and doesn鈥檛 become a failed state.鈥�
He added that the Italian government has been working hard to ensure that the IMF and the World Bank help Tunisia.
鈥淏ut there鈥檚 a problem: The IMF, with the support of the US, says, 鈥榊ou first carry out reforms, and then we鈥檒l give the money.鈥� On the other hand, the Tunisians say, 鈥楩irst the money and then the reforms鈥�,鈥� he said.
鈥淭his is why we propose that the IMF gives immediately a first tranche of money; the rest of the loan can be paid in line with the progress of reforms.鈥�
Tajani said the international community 鈥渃an鈥檛 afford to make the mistake of leaving Tunisia to the Muslim Brotherhood.鈥�
Stefania Craxi, president of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Italian Senate, told Arab News: 鈥淭he Muslim Brotherhood will prosper if the grant doesn鈥檛 come and the economy keeps going down.鈥�
She added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 right for the IMF to ask for reforms, but they must grant the loan before the worst happens. That money must come now.鈥�