Tunis: President Kaïs Saïed visited the Bourguiba mausoleum in Monastir, where he presided over the ceremony commemorating the 24th anniversary of the death of the leader Habib Bourguiba, the first President of the Tunisian Republic.
The Head of State recited the Fatiha in memory of the late Habib Bourguiba and laid a wreath of flowers on his grave.
In remarks on the occasion, President Saïed declared: “It is out of the question to turn back the clock and accept election candidacies from people who have thrown themselves into the arms of foreigners”.
“Candidates must be endorsed by Tunisians, elected only by Tunisians and not by any other party”, he argued.
President Saïed considered it “essential” to respect peaceful coexistence between the authorities in power and the opposition, within the framework of the provisions of the law and the Constitution.
“Contrary to what some people think, power is not an objective in itself; it is the responsibility to honour commitments”, he said.
The Head of State als
o stressed his determination to continue the fight against corruption and the corrupt. «Those who try to hinder the operation of public services no longer have a place in administrations,” he said.
«Today, we are waging a merciless battle to protect Tunisia against attempts, particularly after January 14, 2011, to implode the State from within and undermine its public services”, he declared. Tunisians have shown great awareness in the face of this plot, he added.
Asked whether he would run for a second term as president, Kaïs Saïed stressed that it was the duty of Tunisians to be at the service of Tunisia, whatever their position, and to “continue the struggle for national liberation in order to rid the country of the corrupt in all fields”.
In this connection, he criticised the parties that once boycotted the parliamentary elections and are now rushing to the presidential elections.
“We are in a race against time and want to make up for the time lost over the last ten years”, he said. “We are going to cl
ean up the country”, added President Saïed.
I took this decision on July 25, because duty demanded that we save the country from attempts to destabilise it and sow chaos,” added President Saïed.
“All the electoral deadlines were met, namely the 2022 referendum, the legislative elections and the local elections, and all in record time”, he declared.
With regard to the commemoration of the anniversary of the death of Tunisia’s first president, the leader Habib Bourguiba, Kaïs Saïed stressed that “duty demands that we show our gratitude” to Tunisia’s founding fathers, those who led “a revolution” in Tunisian society, citing the areas of health, education and the personal status code.
President Saïed also expressed his wish to see “the whole of Palestine returned to the Palestinians”. The Palestinian people have the right to recover all their despoiled land and to exercise their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign State, with al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital, he p
ointed out.
Earlier, the President of the Republic saluted the flag to the sound of the national anthem and met veterans and activists who told him of their commitment to defending the homeland and preserving its achievements.
At Place des Arts, the President chatted with citizens and listened to their concerns.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse