Pro-Government Protesters Show Opposition to Upcoming General Strike

Demonstrators hold a sign against former RCD politicians.
Clark Kampfe/Tunisia Live

In light of a recent series of strikes and protests supporting the UGTT, Tunisia’s largest labor union, about 300 demonstrators gathered in front of the former headquarters of the RCD party of ousted Tunisian president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali  in order to show solidarity with the government and to protest the general strike called by UGTT for December 13.

The protest started at 11 am and was organized by local committees of the National League for the Protection of the Revolution. Protesters held signs that condemned corruption and criticized members of Nidaa Tounes (the Call for Tunisia), the UGTT, and former RCD politicians.

“We are here to demand a law in Tunisia’s new constitution that protects our revolution,” said a member of the local committee of Kram of the National League for the Protection of the Revolution, who wished to remain anonymous.

A protester’s jacket identifies him as a member of the National League for the Protection of the Revolution.
Clark Kampfe/Tunisia Live

Om Ghassen, a high school teacher, explained that even though she supports the UGTT, she disagrees with their efforts to politicize the recent events. “I am against the general strike that the UGTT called for,” she added.

In a press release issued today, the ruling party of Ennahdha called on citizens not to protest in the main street of Tunis in order to avoid escalation of tensions, and “not to give a chance to anti-revolutionary forces to destabalize the country’s transition.” The protest took place in Mohamed V street, as the Ministry of the Interior banned all protests in Habib Bourguiba Avenue.