The Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie in the Quebec government, Martine Biron, said that Quebec will not intervene in Tunisia's affairs.

Biron was speaking yesterday with journalists upon her arrival at the Tunisian island of Djerba, where the 18th summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie is being held on Saturday and Sunday.

While the issue of political instability in Tunisia dominated the meeting with journalists, Biron said: "Certainly, President Kais Saied took an unusual, even extreme, step by deciding to dismiss his government, but since the Arab Spring, the relationship between the presidency and the prime minister was not functioning (properly), each canceled the other out, so the situation became paralyzed and unmanageable. He made an important decision, but he also announced democratic elections on December 17," said the Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie in the government of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) about the Tunisian president. Biron explained that her government, headed by François Legault, "considered" the matter before confirming her attendance at the summit.

"If we condemn Tunisia, we somewhat condemn Africa. (...), and we want to do business with the south, so we said okay, we will come for Africa’s health," said Minister Biron. Also, she believes that "democracy should be given a chance" in Tunisia, reminding that this country is scheduled for general legislative elections in a month.

Also, earlier yesterday, the "Canadian Observatory for Rights and Freedoms" sounded the alarm in a press conference in Ottawa, announcing that democracy is "dying" in Tunisia and that action is needed. The observatory, a non-governmental organization, reminded that Tunisian president Kais Saied seized broad powers in 2021 and gave himself the right to rule by decrees.

Member of the Quebec National Assembly Aaron Bouazizi, of Tunisian origin and belonging to the leftist Quebec Solidaire (QS) party, expressed in a press interview his frustration with the "authoritarian abuses that increasingly seem to be a departure from the democratic process that began in 2011."

Bouazizi also pointed out that Quebec is a full member of the International Organization of La Francophonie, similar to France or Switzerland, for example. Therefore, Quebec has the capacity to influence decisions issued by the organization, provided it takes its full place.

Additionally, Bouazizi believes that Quebec Premier François Legault should remind President Kais Saied (...) of his commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.