The US embassy in Tunisia has branded rubbish allegations by a Tunisian lawmaker that the administration of former President Donald Trump had financed the election of incumbent Tunisian president Kais Saied in 2019.
Tunisian parliamentarian, Rached Khiari, from Ennahda [leading party in the legislature] on Monday accused president Saied to have received $5 million in financial aid from the U.S for his electoral campaign to become president.
Khiari showed a picture of the Tunisian leader coming out of the post office where he allegedly received a western Union transfer.
He challenged the president and vowed to provide further evidence for his accusations.
On Twitter the US embassy in the Tunisian capital of Tunis denied any wrongdoing adding that Washington respects Tunisia’s democracy sovereignty.
“In reference to recent media reports, the U.S. government did not fund the presidential campaign of President Kaïs Saïed. The United States reaffirms its respect for the integrity and sovereignty of Tunisian democracy,” it said.
The military prosecution office opened an investigation and summoned Khiari as defendant.
Kais Saied won the 2019 elections following the death of President Caid Bedji. The 63-year old politician has been in an open conflict with the Islamist party that he blames for some of the country’s woes.
U.S denies funding Tunisian President during 2019 elections
