France's Macron pledges support on first Tunisia visit

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French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday pledged support for Tunisia at an "important moment" as he arrived on a first visit two weeks after protests rocked the country.

"We are at an important moment in the life of Tunisia," Macron said at a press conference with his counterpart Beji Caid Essebsi.

"We want to accompany you," he said. "We want to allow the youth of Tunisia to succeed."

French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech to members of the French community in Tunis, Tunisia, Jan. 31, 2018. /AFP Photo

Essebsi sought to downplay the criticism of the authorities by insisting that Tunisia remained a "democratic country" and should not be condemned "in the same ranks as the despots and tyrants."

"You should not judge us as if we were a democracy that been going for centuries," he said.

France is the country's largest trading partner.

Macron signed a series of accords pledging funds aimed at boosting local businesses and helping reform the economy.

Analysts say the Tunisian public is skeptical towards pledges of overseas aid.

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi attends a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Tunis, Tunisia, Jan. 31, 2018. /VCG Photo

"They are not expecting much from foreign officials' promises of support, which they only half believe," said Tunisian political scientist Selim Kharrat.

"In 2011, we were promised a Marshall Plan and exceptional aid, which never arrived."

More recent promises "were rarely followed by facts that were palpable on the ground," he added.

Economic woes

Successive governments have struggled to revitalize Tunisia's economy since 2011, especially after deadly jihadist attacks in 2015 dealt a major blow to the key tourism sector.

Tunis did secure a 2.4-billion-euro (2.9 billion US dollars) IMF loan in return for a reduction in its budget deficit and other financial reforms.

But employment has remained stubbornly high, and an austerity budget and hikes in value added taxes sent demonstrators onto the streets in early January.

France has said it wants to help Tunisia tackle joblessness, which remains above 15 percent overall and over 30 percent among the young, despite a slight uptick in economic growth last year.

Paris has also called on French firms to "invest massively" in Tunisia.

Macron in addition signed a deal on closer counter-terrorism cooperation and is due to visit the National Bardo Museum, the site of a deadly Islamic State group attack in 2015.

The French leader will address the People's Assembly on Thursday as well as meeting officials, civil society leaders and members of the public.

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Source(s): AFP