Slashing US economic assistance while holding mostly steady on security aid would undermine the Biden administration’s claims that it supports the Tunisian people and their democratic aspirations. “It sends a concerning message to Saied and security officials in the country that, despite their abuses, we are happy to maintain support for your institutions as long as you continue to work with us.”

“Large-scale international [economic] assistance should only be provided if President Kaïs Saïed reverses ground and returns Tunisia to a democratic path.”

“I think it is very short-sighted of the Biden administration not to mount a more effective policy to try to protect and preserve Tunisian democracy. Because it was a flawed democracy before July 25. But it was…the only one in the Arab world.”

“Whether [Saïed seized control] because he believed that it was the only way to break Tunisia out of this political gridlock…or whether he is power hungry and saw this as an opportunity to become Tunisia’s sole ruler, time will tell.”

“When FMF loans were…more common…the preponderance of countries ended up defaulting, in which case the US was responsible for the loans… So we ended up paying it anyway, but it still did damage to the creditworthiness of those countries.”

“Voter mobilization for Kais Saied was strong… it will be fascinating to watch how Saied translates his decisive mandate into tangible change for Tunisians. Tunisia is entering a new political phase whose contours and tenor is not yet clear.”

“Here in Tunisia a large number of voters sent a clear message of rebuke to the ruling political establishment. [Tunisia is] entering new territory, a realignment underway. What unfolds next, not clear.”

“Perhaps his most important legacy was his successful attempts to forge consensus with the Ennahda Party, an Islamist movement, and his secular party, Nidaa Tounes. This power-sharing that he helped achieve has been crucial to…political stability.”

“The interest in Tunisia is primarily around its unique democratic experiment… While Tunisians are very protective of their experiment, and they say they’re not trying to export their model, I think they are an inspiration.”