Italy urges IMF to take a ‘pragmatic’ approach to Tunisia loan

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to take a pragmatic approach to a bailout for Tunisia. Meloni, who leads Italy’s most right-wing government since World War II, made the comments during discussions with other G7 leaders in Hiroshima, Japan. Tunisia reached an agreement in principle with the IMF in October for a $2bn bailout to support its struggling economy, but negotiations have since stalled. Meloni and other European leaders fear that economic collapse in Tunisia could lead to increased migration to Europe. The IMF is pushing for economic reforms, which Tunisian President Kais Saied’s government has so far refused to commit to. Rome has urged the IMF to approve an initial, unconditional bailout package.