The Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) has appointed a new secretary general at the conclusion of its congress held from March 25 to 27 in Monastir, on the east coast of Tunisia.
Slaheddine Selmi, previously deputy secretary general, succeeds Noureddine Tabboubi, who had been running the organization since 2017.
This election marks a turning point for the organization, a historical pillar of Tunisian social and political life, but one currently beset by deep internal tensions. In recent months, a faction within the union had strongly criticized Noureddine Tabboubi's leadership, accusing him in particular of a lack of transparency. The crisis culminated in December with the announcement of his resignation, before he reversed his decision a few weeks later.
The Monastir congress itself took place in a tense atmosphere. From the outset, dissenting union members demonstrated to denounce its holding, illustrating the persistent divisions within the union. Aware of the gravity of the situation, the outgoing secretary general, Noureddine Tabboubi, had acknowledged a few days earlier that the UGTT had "caught the flu," while maintaining that it remained "solid."
In addition to these internal divisions, there is increasing political pressure. President Kais Saied, whom the UGTT had conditionally supported during his institutional power grab in 2021, recently expressed his sympathy for protesters demanding the departure of the union leadership. In early March, the UGTT notably denounced a government decision threatening its funding, reigniting tensions with the government.
Founded in 1946, the UGTT remains a key player in the country's contemporary history. It distinguished itself in the struggle against the French protectorate, and later in its opposition to the regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Following the 2010-2011 revolution, it played a central role in the national dialogue, a contribution recognized by the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015.
The arrival of Slaheddine Selmi thus opens a new chapter for the trade union. At the head of an organization that is both powerful and weakened, he will have to restore internal cohesion, reaffirm the credibility of the UGTT and redefine its position in a Tunisian political landscape undergoing profound transformation.
