Fake news stories plagued the recent American elections, ultimately leading one man to make an armed raid on a pizza shop which one conspiracy theory claimed was a paedophile ring.
Meanwhile, in Tunisia, the President is making absolutely sure that the people know their facts about the really important issues. So much so that Beji Caid Essebsi has produced a video to confirm that he will not in fact be selling the presidential car, despite the rumours. Phew!
We might laugh but the motor in question is not any ordinary vehicle. Rather, it is a Rolls Royce with quite an illustrious history.
Donated to Tunisia by the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, the antique car was apparently owned by Habib Bourguiba, the Tunisian leader known as the “Supreme Warrior” who led his country’s battle for independence from France.
In footage shared yesterday on the “Inside Carthage” Facebook page, Essebsi urged the media to move away from gossip and stop distracting the people with these “empty problems.” This, apparently after some media outlets reported he would be letting the historic car go.
“You can blame us for a lot of things, but political idiocy is not one of them,” he added, standing alongside the vehicle.
“Anyone who wants to inspect the car, go ahead. If we cannot hold onto things like that, how can we maintain the security of Tunisia?”
Tunisians responded happily to the clip, joining in the President’s criticism of local journalists and celebrating the car as part of their national heritage:
Tunisian journalists are the biggest source of misinformation and the manipulation of opinion in this country! They make us ashamed!
Well said, Mr President!
Everything that belongs to the palace of Carthage belongs to Tunisia, therefore he has no right to sell anything.
It is good to know that Tunisian politicians are concentrating on the real issues, as its all-important tourist industry continues to falter nearly two years on from a terrorist attack in Sousse that killed 38, including 30 British holidaymakers.
RA
