United States urges Tunisian president to quickly return to democratic path

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Tunisian President Kais Saied delivers a speech during the government swearing-in ceremony at Carthage Palace outside the capital Tunis, Tunisia, February 27, 2020. Fethi Belaid / Pool via REUTERS

WASHINGTON, July 31 (Reuters) – US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Saturday urged the Tunisian president to sketch a swift return to the “democratic path” after taking power last Sunday, the White House said.

Tunisian President Kais Saied has invoked a national emergency in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and poor governance to sack the prime minister, freeze parliament and take control of the executive in a move hailed by street rallies but that his opponents have called it a coup.

During a phone call, Sullivan stressed to Saied the need to “quickly form a new government, led by a prime minister capable of stabilizing the Tunisian economy and dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as ensure the swift return of the elected parliament, “the White House National Security Council said in a statement.

Reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Daniel Wallis

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