Status: 11.10.2021 1:15 p.m.
More than two months after taking power, the controversial Tunisian head of state Saied sworn in a new government – and established it beforehand by decree. Resistance to the president is growing among the population.
Tunisia has a new government. The presidency of the North African country announced that the head of state Kais Saied had issued a corresponding decree. Saied took the oath of office from 24 ministers and one state secretary. Most of the government members have not yet appeared in party politics, eight of them are female.
So did the head of government Najla Bouden Romdhane: The 63-year-old was commissioned by Saied to form a government two weeks ago. She is a professor of geology and was most recently director general in the Ministry of Universities and Scientific Research, as Tunisian media reported unanimously. She is the first woman to head a government in the region.
Romdhane announced in a video broadcast by the Presidential Office that fighting corruption would be one of the new government’s priorities.
Criticism of President Saied is growing
Meanwhile, in Tunisia, criticism of the takeover of President Saied is mounting. With the help of an emergency article of the constitution, the latter had deposed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi on July 25, suspended the work of parliament and lifted the immunity of MPs. The Ennahdha party, which had ruled until then, accused him of a “coup”.
On September 22nd, Saied also repealed large parts of the constitution and announced that he would rule by decree in the future. It is expected that Saied will change the electoral law and the constitution and legitimize these changes by referendum. Again and again there are protests against the president.
Thousands demonstrate against presidents
It was not until Sunday that thousands of people demonstrated against Saied with a heavy police presence in the capital Tunis. Several journalists were attacked, who accused the demonstrators of being biased towards the president.
A journalist from the Tunisian state broadcaster Al Wataniya was hospitalized with head injuries, the Tunisian journalists association SNJT and the broadcaster confirmed.