TUNIS: Thousands of members and supporters of Tunisia’s powerful Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) protested in the capital on Thursday over what they called a decline in union rights and civic freedoms. It was one of the largest political demonstrations Tunisia has seen recently, and comes amid a deepening standoff between the UGTT and President Kais Saied. Last month, a UGTT strike over wages and working conditions disrupted transport services across the country and piled pressure on Saied to deal with a deepening economic crisis.

While the confrontation was inevitable, the union’s power has been weakened, analysts say.

TUNIS: Thousands of members and supporters of Tunisia’s powerful Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) protested in the capital on Thursday over what they called a decline in union…