Tunisia’s ‘Red Vests’ vow to stage countrywide protests

<p>By Seifeddin Mahjoub</p> <p>TUNIS (AA) – Founders of Tunisia’s “Red Vests” campaign said Friday that they would stage “peaceful demonstrations” across the country in coming days.</p> <p>Campaign founder Riyad Jarad said at a recent press conference that the initiative had drawn its inspiration from France’s “Yellow Vest” protesters.</p> <p>&quot;The initiative fundamentally makes economic and social demands; it is intended to represent the poor and marginalized,&quot; he said, asserting that no political parties or entities stood behind the campaign.</p> <p>According to Jarad, protesters are demanding stepped-up development, more job opportunities, better public education and health services, and improved living standards.</p> <p>Campaign organizer Naguib al-Dereidi said that 53 local coordination offices — and nine regional ones — had been set up countrywide over the course of the last week.</p> <p>He held all the country’s political parties, including those in opposition, responsible for Tunisia’s deteriorating economic situation.</p> <p>Yasin al-Warghi, another campaign member, said that organizers had issued a total of 22 demands, including an increase of the country’s minimum wage.</p> <p>On Dec. 9, a group of Tunisian youth formally announced the establishment of the &quot;Red Vests&quot; protest movement with the ostensible aim of &quot;saving Tunisia&quot;.</p>