The Tunisian State will not renounce its social role,” reiterated President of the Republic Kaïs Saïed during his meeting Wednesday with Finance Minister Sihem Nemsia and Trade Minister Kalthoum Ben Rejeb.

“Those who revolted against injustice and despotism were the poor and destitute,” he hammered in allusion to the bread riots of January 1984, which broke out following the lifting of subsidies on grain and by-products.

“Some sides still aspire to lift these subsidies and want to deprive the needy of State support. Those sides are today nostalgic for such riots, during which hundreds of martyrs fell,” he added.

The Head of State considered that some are attempting to lift subsidies in various ways, underlining that “he will not stand idly by while these practices are being carried out, and that he will strive to meet the people’s demands for social justice.”

Underscoring his commitment to social justice, the President of the Republic affirmed the need to re-establish the State’s social role, to redress
the situation of public enterprises and establishments, and to protect them against those who wish to destroy them.”

Referring to the examples of the Tunisian Siderurgy Company (El Fouladh) and the Tunisian Dairy Processing Company (STIL), Saïed underlined the need to clean up public companies and restore their rightful place in the national economy.

“The goal is to achieve social justice. The State will protect those who grow rich in respect of the law, but it will be firm with those who do not accept accountability,” he added.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse