Tunisia - (AFP) - Tunisian President Kais Saied, on Wednesday, underestimated the importance of the massive boycott of the legislative elections that Tunisia recently witnessed, sharply addressing his critics who denounce the decline in freedoms in the country since he seized power.

Tunisia's electoral authorities officially announced that turnout in the December 17 legislative elections was limited to 11.2 percent, slightly higher than the initial 8.8 percent announced at closing.

This participation rate is the lowest ever since the revolution that overthrew the dictatorship in 2011, and was considered a setback for Said.

The Tunisian president said during his meeting at the Carthage Palace with Prime Minister Naglaa Boudin and a number of ministers, including the defense minister and security officials, that "a participation of 9 or 12 percent is better than the 99 percent in which they participated. Telegrams of congratulations were raining in from abroad, and those capitals knew that those elections were rigged."

"We need telegrams of congratulations from the Tunisian people," he added.

Saeed sharply confronted his opponents and critics without naming them, saying, "It happened these days by those who are steeped to the core in corruption and treason, that they take over, day and night, striking state institutions and insulting the state's authority and symbols, and this insult rises to the rank of conspiracy against the internal and external security of the state."

"These situations cannot continue, and these people will not remain without punishment within the framework of the law," the Tunisian president added.

Regarding the shortage of basic foodstuffs, he accused his opponents of "fabricating crises, and their rhetoric about the crisis is to incite against state institutions."

On the other hand, Saeed denied any decline in freedoms and rights in Tunisia since he monopolized the authorities, saying, "Those who cry over freedom of expression do not have freedom of thought, but are mercenaries."

Tunisia has been experiencing a political crisis since Saied decided to monopolize power on July 25, 2021, and later appointed a new government, amended the 2014 constitution, and approved new parliamentary elections at the end of the year.

Since then, NGOs and the opposition have accused the security services of resorting to methods reminiscent of those of the police state under Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's dictatorship.