We will engage in every available legal battle—domestically and internationally—against the forces of populism. We will spare no effort in exposing this regime as one that operates outside the law, and we will rigorously defend our people's right to free and fair elections and to choose those who are the most capable of leading the nation. At the same time, we will stand up for the rights of all Tunisians to dissent, to democratic opposition, and to freedom of expression. We will continue to press for an end to the injustices inflicted on free voices, for the release of prisoners of conscience, and for accountability for those who have wronged the people through policies of exclusion and systematic repression.

Our country is rich in talent and home to champions of liberty—national assets that must be protected and empowered. They are the vanguard of today's struggle and the strong shield of tomorrow against all attempts to reverse progress, manipulate the law, undermine the rule of law and institutions, and concentrate power in one hand. As the great Tunisian thinker Ibn Khaldun once wrote: "Justice is the foundation of civilization."

Populism has assassinated democracy and destroyed political life in our country. There are no longer functioning parties, no civil society, no activists, no space for dissenting opinions, no free press, no healthy competition of ideas, no accountability or oversight of those in power. Activists, opponents, journalists, bloggers, even election candidates, are behind bars, when they should be contributing to a vibrant public sphere, enriching democratic practice, and strengthening national institutions.

While we categorically condemn this hateful populist approach and the devastating impact it has had on Tunisia's political life, we also renew our call to all political actors—whether in the opposition or those who have previously held positions of power—to conduct the necessary self-assessment, to break with past practices that disconnected them from the people's concerns, and to acknowledge the role they have played in fueling public skepticism toward politics and politicians.

Populism, lacking in long-term vision and steeped in short-sightedness, has wrecked our economy, destroyed free enterprise, deepened poverty, eroded purchasing power, and burdened citizens with excessive taxation. Mediocrity is not a strategy, a point of view or a destiny to be accepted by Tunisians.

Populism exploits politics as a smokescreen to conceal its failures and the economic and social crimes it commits against our people. In contrast, we see politics as a means, a justification, and a goal to achieve the trinity of "freedom, security, and dignity".

From our position, and through peaceful and legal means, we will continue to act using the same methods that have always defined us: proposing solutions rather than worsening crises; offering alternatives rather than threatening the country's security, stability and unity. We will strive to raise awareness and promote the return of a sound, elevated, and democratic political life—one worthy of Tunisia and of our people's aspirations for a better future. By God's will, our proposals and solutions will reach every home and every institution—bringing to light what populism has sought to obscure and suppress through its politics of exclusion and its "excluding elections".

We are committed to launching a national rescue program. While this may not take place today within state institutions, it will be driven by a network of Tunisian experts and professionals... We aim to support Tunisian youth in integrating into the digital economy, to help small enterprises overcome challenges and form partnerships, and to draw upon successful models from around the world. We want to assist vulnerable groups in facing the hardships of daily life through a solidarity-based social program that strengthens unity and compassion among Tunisians... We seek to establish a new concept of political action, one that is not solely about seeking power, but about serving the public good and the citizens, from any position... As the poet Mahmoud Darwish once said: "We have work to do in our land."

This is the first stage of rescue. No matter how deep the disappointment or how distant the hope, no one who truly loves this country can afford to stand idly by as conditions grow worse and more complex with each passing day... And what would we gain from the end of populism if the price were a complete national collapse that burdens generations to come? Populism will not prevail, so long as the people do not surrender. The resignation of the people and the withdrawal of their elites is the greatest gift offered to populism. But awakening the people, fostering a "society of duty," cultivating a work ethic, rewarding merit, and aspiring to a better Tunisia is the beginning of populism's end.

• This will be achieved through the encouragement of free civic initiatives—those that benefit the people and the country, free of any political or ideological manipulation. These are the kinds of actions that can never justly be labeled, as populist discourse so often does, under narratives of "treason, conspiracy, or collusion" simply because they offer a different perspective. Examples include, but are not limited to:
• Improving healthcare services in underserved regions
• Renovating and maintaining schools, especially in marginalized areas
• Providing transportation for students in remote locations
• Supporting and accompanying disaster-stricken families
• Organizing anti-violence awareness campaigns in sports stadiums
• Promoting responsible, civic-minded behavior on public roads
• Combating workplace harassment
• Raising awareness about the dangers of blackmail and human trafficking through social media
• Providing material aid to families in need

• To fortify society's immunity against absolutism and autocratic rule
• To collectively help avert the threat of total economic and social collapse
• To multiply opportunities of unity that bring Tunisians together and remind them of their shared destiny, especially when it comes to the nation's core values
• To raise national consciousness that Tunisia deserves better, that populism is not fate, and that we are all in the same boat. "If the Boat is saved, We are all Saved."

This will become a reality once we fully understand that populism is a distortion of the very idea of the people. Expanding and amplifying these kinds of civic and citizen-led efforts is the way to restore the people's voice and initiative... Every time the people speak, populism falls silent.