Thread by @OuiemCh

1) PM Mechichi met today with heads of Police unions (who have been responsible for violations of citizens’ privacy, inflammatory campaigns against some people they identified from the anti-police violence & anti-law 52 protests) to show his appreciation for them

2) Some of us were hoping for some sort of reaction from the PM / President to the violence & lack of professionalism shown by these unions since the Protest last Saturday. Such an explicit show of good relations between the acting Minister of Interior & the unions is a bad sign

3) Some unions staged protests where they openly chanted against him /called for unconstitutional strikes & even broke chain of command by deciding how they’ll tackle upcoming protests. It seems he submitted to them. Seems his unpopularity means he needs any support he can find.

4) One thing I have been wondering is whether Mechichi is bracing himself for being marked as Pharmakos for the mishandling of Covid strategy and protests. Organizers in Tunis are already discussing that Mechichi’s departure will not appease them.

5) To clarify: the PM saluted & praised security forces for their efforts in the “difficult times the country has faced” & the “fight against Covid”. He said the state protects “legitimate & peaceful protests” but “condemns violent protests that harm private & public property”

6) Given that Police Unions are portraying the Saturday march protesters as violent (for throwing colorful paint & making “disrespectful hand gestures”) , it is unclear whether Mechichi is ready to discuss with them what he means by “peaceful” vs “violent”.