Alternatives to a Tunisian IMF deal are few

Significance

The day before, Noureddine Taboubi, the leader of Tunisia's largest trade union, the UGTT, said the union backs the position of President Kais Saied, who rejected the IMF's conditionality.

Impacts

• The risk of political unrest remains low despite economic distress, largely because of the weak opposition and security clampdown.
• Without IMF assistance, Tunisia will find it difficult to borrow on international markets.
• Gulf Arab countries will likely remain hesitant to support Tunisia under current conditions.