U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday introduced the Safeguarding Tunisian Democracy Act, legislation to foster Tunisia’s democratic institutions, limit funds until Tunisia restores checks and balances, and authorize the creation of a fund to support democratic reforms.

“Tunisia emerged from the Jasmine Revolution and Arab Spring as a rare example of a nascent and developing democracy. Unfortunately, Tunisian President Kais Saied has taken several drastic actions that have undermined Tunisia’s democratic institutions and consolidated power in the executive,” said Ranking Member Risch. “Despite the Biden Administration’s advertised reductions in assistance, a stalled International Monetary Fund loan, and congressional threats to explore conditioning assistance, President Saied has not changed course. This legislation will limit State Department funding to Tunisia until President Saied ends the state of emergency, and provides real economic incentives for meaningful democratic reforms. Tunisia has been a longstanding U.S. partner, but needs to change course or risk further degradation of the U.S.-Tunisia relationship.”

“The United States and Tunisia share interests on regional stability and economic opportunity, and I strongly support U.S. assistance to enable the democratic aspirations and economic dignity of the Tunisian people,” said Chairman Menendez. “This legislation preserves humanitarian and economic assistance for Tunisian civil society, while clarifying President Kais Saied’s choices. He and his government can either end the state of emergency and place Tunisia back on the democratic path. Or he can stand in the way of United States support for the Tunisian people and government.”

This legislation:

• Limits State Department-administered Tunisia funding by 25%, including security assistance, until President Saied ends the nationwide state of emergency declared on July 25, 2021, with the exception of funding for Tunisian civil society.
• Authorizes $100M per year for fiscal years 2024-2025 to create a “Tunisia Democracy Support Fund.” Funds available in this fund shall not be available until the Secretary of State certifies that the government of Tunisia has demonstrated progress on democratic benchmarks, including empowering parliament, restoring judicial independence, ceasing military trials of civilians, and ceasing arbitrary arrests of journalists.

Text of the legislation can be found here.

Original source can be found here.