Tunisian MP arrested, fourth since Kais Saied took power

Police personnel Tunisian Former Minister Mehdi Ben Gharbia, accused of alleged crimes of tax evasion and money laundering, was arrested today, a court of first instance in the capital reported.

According to the source, Ben Gharbia, fourth deputy detained since last August 25 the President of the Republic, Kais SaiedHe suspended Parliament, ceased the Government and assumed exceptional powers, he was placed in police custody after an investigation ordered by the central brigade for the fight against economic and financial crimes in the capital’s Al Aouina neighborhood.

Ben Gharbia is a member of the secular progressive party “Tahia Tunis”, led by former Prime Minister Yousef Chahed and has 14 deputies in the House, now suspended.

The former minister is the second of the four deputies to be investigated for corruption, while the others are in preventive detention without having been formally charged for alleged insults to the security forces.

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INSTABILITY

The political situation in Tunisia is extremely unstable since Saied seize power and restrict individual freedoms in what the opposition considers a “coup” heavy loss.

Despite pressure from the international community to restore democratic normality, the president decided in August to extend the exceptionality indefinitely and form a new government under his command, without the intervention of Parliament, as required by the participatory parliamentary system chosen by the Tunisian people. and the Constitution approved in 2014.

Before Saied When the government was terminated, it negotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) a new millionaire loan and with the European Union a series of aid that has now been subject to the democratic normalization of the country.

Sources of the new Tunisian Executive have admitted that they are now negotiating with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to try to save public coffers in a dramatic situation.

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