Elyes Mnakbi has to leave Tunisair's headquarters (photo: F.Dubessy)
TUNISIA. The sacking, on Monday July 6, 2020, of Tunisair CEO Elyes Mnakbi makes Tunisia grind its teeth. Starting with the person concerned himself, in post since 2017, who refuses this sanction.
Anouar Maârouf, Tunisian Minister of Transport and Logistics at the origin of this decision, which he says he took in consultation with Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh, gives no reason for this forced departure. Part of the Tunisian press reveals that Anouar Maârouf's ministry has reportedly filed a complaint with the financial judicial pole against six executives of the airline company, including its CEO, on suspicion of corruption.
According to Elyes Mnakbi, his eviction is simply explained by his refusal to implement decisions of the Minister of Transport and Logistics "which did not serve the interests of the company. The local media published a document from the ministry asking Elyes Mnakbi to convene the board of Tunisair to inform it of the choice of Belgacem Tayaa (Secretary General of the Ministry of Transport) as interim manager until the appointment of a new CEO. Elyes Mnakbi stressed that it is up to the Prime Minister, and not the Transport Minister, to dismiss the CEOs of public companies and that the letter received "has no legal value.
Walid Jalled, of the Tahya Tounes movement, confirms and evokes a violation of the law and specifically of Article 92 which stipulates that this type of dismissal falls within the domain of the head of government. Noureddine Taboubi, secretary general of the UGTT (Tunisian General Labour Union) even speaks of a "scandal". Speaking to Anouar Maârouf in a speech on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, he said, "you are free to appoint or dismiss anyone you want, but it must be done in a legal manner".
The Tunisian government has again refused to come to the financial aid of Tunisair, which was in great difficulty long before the arrival of the coronavirus, despite the presentation of a rescue plan by Elyes Mnakbi.
Anouar Maârouf, Tunisian Minister of Transport and Logistics at the origin of this decision, which he says he took in consultation with Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh, gives no reason for this forced departure. Part of the Tunisian press reveals that Anouar Maârouf's ministry has reportedly filed a complaint with the financial judicial pole against six executives of the airline company, including its CEO, on suspicion of corruption.
According to Elyes Mnakbi, his eviction is simply explained by his refusal to implement decisions of the Minister of Transport and Logistics "which did not serve the interests of the company. The local media published a document from the ministry asking Elyes Mnakbi to convene the board of Tunisair to inform it of the choice of Belgacem Tayaa (Secretary General of the Ministry of Transport) as interim manager until the appointment of a new CEO. Elyes Mnakbi stressed that it is up to the Prime Minister, and not the Transport Minister, to dismiss the CEOs of public companies and that the letter received "has no legal value.
Walid Jalled, of the Tahya Tounes movement, confirms and evokes a violation of the law and specifically of Article 92 which stipulates that this type of dismissal falls within the domain of the head of government. Noureddine Taboubi, secretary general of the UGTT (Tunisian General Labour Union) even speaks of a "scandal". Speaking to Anouar Maârouf in a speech on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, he said, "you are free to appoint or dismiss anyone you want, but it must be done in a legal manner".
The Tunisian government has again refused to come to the financial aid of Tunisair, which was in great difficulty long before the arrival of the coronavirus, despite the presentation of a rescue plan by Elyes Mnakbi.
