Tunisian president condemns EU resolution as "blatant interference"

TUNIS - Tunisian President Kais Saied on Friday condemned a European Parliament resolution calling for the release of his critics as "blatant interference" in the country's affairs.

"The European Parliament resolution is a blatant interference in our affairs," Saied said in a video statement. "They can learn lessons from us on rights and freedoms."

The resolution, adopted on Thursday, urged the release of lawyer and Saied critic Sonia Dahmani, who was freed from prison the same day but remains under judicial supervision.

Saied's condemnation came amid a week of diplomatic tensions involving European envoys.

Also on Friday, the Tunisian Foreign Ministry said it summoned the Dutch ambassador, Josephine Frantzen, to lodge a formal protest over an alleged breach of diplomatic protocol.

Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti conveyed Tunisia's objections and reiterated the need to respect diplomatic norms and avoid interfering in the country's internal affairs, without providing details on the alleged breach. The ministry said the action was taken under instructions from the Tunisian president.

On Tuesday, Saied summoned the European Union ambassador, Giuseppe Perrone, to protest what the presidency described as "failure to respect diplomatic rules" and "the use of practices outside of official frameworks recognised by diplomatic customs."

The statement gave no specifics on the alleged violations.

The summons followed Perrone's meeting earlier this week with Noureddine Taboubi, head of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), a powerful civil society group.

Relations between the presidency and the UGTT have been tense in recent weeks after Taboubi announced plans for a general strike to defend workers' rights amid rising living costs.