Tunisian President Kais Saied stated that 460 individuals looted 13,500 billion dinars (approximately 4.8 billion dollars) from the country based on a report from the National Commission for Investigation into Bribery and Corruption. On Wednesday, Saied proposed a legal settlement with all those involved in the embezzlement of public funds in exchange for returning the looted money to the people.
During a meeting with the President of the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, Samir Majoul, Saied clarified that he would issue a legal text to regulate the procedures for recovering the stolen funds. He called on all those involved to participate in this settlement rather than facing legal prosecution and potential imprisonment, emphasizing that he does not want to punish anyone or disrupt the operations of honest businesspeople.
Saied stipulated that every participant in this settlement must commit to undertaking projects in cities of all sizes throughout the country, from the poorest to the less poor, such as infrastructure projects like hospitals and schools. He threatened anyone attempting to destroy documents from public and administrative institutions with judicial follow-up and accountability, pledging to enforce the law against attempts at monopoly and price speculation, while urging everyone to cooperate during these exceptional circumstances.
He concluded by stating, "Tunisia deserves a situation much better than the one we are living in," adding, "I want to assure Tunisians that the exceptional measures are warranted and that I fear no one and do not wish injustice upon anyone."
It is noteworthy that the Tunisian President announced on Sunday the suspension of parliament for a month and the dismissal of Prime Minister Hicham Mechichi, assuming executive power himself. Additionally, he dismissed several high-ranking officials, including the Minister of Defense Ibrahim Bartaji, the Acting Minister of Justice, and the spokesperson for the government.
On Tuesday, he ended the terms of several high-ranking officials in the government and dismissed the General Manager of the official television, Mohamed Lassad Al-Dahesh, appointing Awatif Al-Dali to manage the institution temporarily. He also issued a presidential order to establish an operations room for managing the coronavirus pandemic, headed by the Director General of Military Health.
