French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Tunisia Wednesday on a visit intended to "support the democratic transition" of a country still battered by economic stagnation and social unrest seven years after its revolution. His visit comes after several hundred people were arrested in Tunisia this month in protests fuelled by unemployment, corruption and austerity measures in the 2018 budget.
The French presidency said Macron hopes "to support the Tunisian democratic experience, the only successful transition experience after the Arab Spring" of 2011. Macron has talked up ties between France and its former colony, hosting his Tunisian counterpart Beji Caid Essebsi in December and declaring that "the relationship with Tunisia is a priority".
But analysts say the Tunisian public is sceptical towards pledges of overseas aid. "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. Macron was scheduled to head directly to Tunisia's presidential palace to sign a series of economic, security, academic and cultural accords with his counterpart Beji Caid Essebsi, before meeting Prime Minister Youssef Chahed.
He is then set to attend a state dinner with senior Tunisian politicians. Macron is to address the People's Assembly on Thursday as well as meeting officials, civil society leaders and members of the public.
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