Tunisia’s Parliament speaker vows good ties with media after ban on the first plenary

Brahim Bouderbala, the new Speaker of Tunisia’s brand new legislature, pledged Monday to re-affirm press freedom and good ties with journalists, even though state banned private and international media outlets to cover the first plenary of lawmakers elected during December 17 unpopular legislatives.
Tunisians authorities barred private and international media to the first plenary of the parliament that elected President Kais Saied proponent as the new speaker of the 154-lawmakers house.
In reaction to the ban decried by the media, Bouderbala told the media that the move meant to not project an obscene image that contributes to the trivialization of parliamentary and political life.
“We will try in the future to strengthen the relationship with the media, and will not leave anyone behind,” he added.
Tunisia has been embroiled in what critics of Saied call dictatorship. Several high profile critics of the President have been arrested. They include journalists and members of the country’s largest political group Ennahdha.
The new legislature has no member of the core opposition. Ennahdha and parties opposed to Saied boycotted the December elections which only garnered 11 per cent as turnout.