House Democrats push Biden administration on Tunisia's democratic backslide
The lawmakers called on the Biden administration to promote good governance initiatives in the North African country.
A group of House Democrats are calling on the Biden administration to consider Tunisia’s anti-democratic slide as it works with Congress on spending plans for the coming fiscal year.
“We encourage the State Department to prioritize programs that support a restoration of democratic governance, due process, and the rule of law in the country,” read the March 25 letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The letter, which was led by the House's Middle East subcommittee chair Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), also called for assistance to the country’s internal security force to be “carefully reviewed” given its role in the repression of Tunisian citizens.
The 23 lawmakers expressed support for a decision by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a US government foreign assistance agency, to hold off on signing a new development aid compact with Tunis. Moving forward with a grant agreement "in the current political climate would send the wrong message,” the lawmakers said.
