Tunisia's PM protests against French official

Tunisia’s Prime Minister has summoned the French Ambassador to Tunis on Friday to express his disapproval at the recent statement issued by the French Interior Minister Manila Vals. Vals claimed that Tunisia is “not the best model of the Arab Spring,” and called for a confrontation of the rule of Islamists, through supporting democratic and secular powers. However, the Tunisian government considers such statements an “interference” in the country’s affairs. Tunisian Foreign Minister Rafik Bin Abdel-Salam said that he would further investigate the statements of the French official, adding that Tunisia is a model example for the Arab Spring, and the French interior minister’s stance would not change that. A large number of Tunisians organized demonstrations in front of the Tunisian Constituent Council to protest Val’s statements. Politicians and rights activists were also quick to criticize, accusing France of “still dealing with Tunisia as a colony.” The French official said in a televised statement that his country strongly supports the democratic and secular powers in Tunisia, and that his country opens the door for Tunisian refugees who “escape from the dictatorial regime of the Muslim Brotherhood.”