The French Foreign Ministry has called for the resumption of discussions between the Tunisian authorities and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for reaching a final agreement on the release of a payment of US$1.9 billion to help Tunisia face serious economic difficulties.
The aid which was meant for disbursal in instalments starting in December has not yet been approved by the IMF Board. The postponement of the examination of the file of Tunisia by the IMF board, the French government official said, was creating consternation among officials of Tunisia. In return for the IMF loan, the Tunisian government has committed to reforms including a gradual lifting of state subsidies for basic products (food and energy) and a restructuring of public companies that have a monopoly in many sectors.
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Paris wants both the IMF and Tunisia to re-engage without delay in evolving the reforms necessary for the stability and prosperity of the North African country. Analysts maintain that the IMF developed cold feet in granting the loan facility could be due to the present state of governance in Tunisia, wherein the president is riding roughshod over the democratic institutions. As the former colonial power, France also noted with disdain the preliminary results and the low level of participation in the first round of the Tunisian legislative elections held very recently. As reported by www.trendsnafrica.com,the legislative elections had a record abstention (over 90%), a reflection on the president, who, of late, is consolidating all powers unto himself.
