Tunisian MP decries loans favoring foreign firms for STEG projects

A Tunisian member of parliament has voiced strong criticism regarding loan agreements intended to support the national electricity and gas company, STEG. The lawmaker alleges that these financial arrangements, secured through the World Bank, are structured in a way that unfairly favors foreign businesses over domestic ones.

The controversy surrounds two draft laws that seek parliamentary approval for guarantee agreements between Tunisia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). These agreements are specifically designed to benefit STEG, aiming to bolster its infrastructure and operational capabilities. However, the parliamentarian's concerns highlight a potential imbalance in how these international funds are being allocated, raising questions about their ultimate beneficiaries.

The debate within the Assembly of the Representatives of the People underscores ongoing scrutiny of public sector finances and international partnerships. The specific nature of the alleged favoritism towards foreign companies remains a key point of contention, prompting calls for greater transparency and accountability in how such loans are managed and disbursed.