Tunisian President Kais Saied summoned the EU ambassador to Tunisia, Giuseppe Perrone, in protest over what the presidency described as “a failure to respect diplomatic norms,” following his meeting with the UGTT Secretary-General Noureddine Taboubi outside official channels.

The move comes amid escalating tensions between the presidency and the union, after the labor organization hinted at a general strike in protest of social conditions.

Saied delivered a “strongly worded protest” to the ambassador, stressing the need to respect diplomatic customs in dealings related to domestic affairs.