The Tunisian Labor Union (UGTT) reacted strongly, Tuesday, August 26, 2025, to a publication of the American Republican Senator Joe Wilson on the X platform. The latter commented on the March 21 in Tunisia by evoking a possible “syrianization” of the country. The union center, as well as several political parties, denounce a foreign interference deemed unacceptable.
The controversial publication of Senator Joe Wilson
On August 22, 2025, the American senator Joe Wilson published on his account X a message qualifying the march organized by the UGTT on August 21 as one of the most important protest movements in Tunisia for several months.
He added a comparison deemed moved, evoking a “syrianization” of the country, which immediately aroused criticism.
The UGTT reaffirms its historical role and its patriotism
In its press release, the UGTT recalls that it was born in the struggle for independence and that it has always fought colonialism, imperialism, dictatorship and social injustice.
The union center claims that no external force can doubt the patriotism of its activists and rejects any attempt to instrumentalize its name as a pretext for foreign interference.
Strong reactions from Tunisian parties
The release of Joe Wilson caused an outcry. The popular current and al-Watad denounced a “blatant interference” in the internal affairs of Tunisia. They believe that the senator’s words constitute a disguised threat and a sign of the will to destabilize.
The UGTT insists on the inseparable link between national sovereignty, democracy, freedoms and social justice. She claims that this battle belongs exclusively to the Tunisian people and that no foreign power should interfere in this process.
Joe Wilson and Tunisia
This is not the first time that Joe Wilson has been attacking Tunisia. Last January, he exhorted the American Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to cut all financial assistance intended for Tunisia as part of the overall revision of foreign aid in the United States, then declaring on X that “there is no reason why American taxpayers finance Tunisia”, and suggesting that the country no longer corresponds to American strategic priorities.
A few days older, he returned to the charge by accusing Tunisia of getting closer to the Chinese Communist Party, then saying to himself “shocked” after having read the heavy prison sentences inflicted on the former head of government Hichem Mechichi and the former president of the Parliament Rached Ghannouchi, in the Installo case, announcing that he will soon present a bill to impose sanctions on Tunisia. “
