Status: 07/26/2021 1:45 a.m.
The political crisis in Tunisia is worsening: President Saied has deposed Prime Minister Mechichi and suspended parliament. The ruling Ennahda party spoke of a “coup”.
Tunisia’s President Kais Saied has dismissed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi from his office in a surprising step and suspended the work of parliament for the time being. The occasion is the mass protests against the government’s corona and economic policy over the past few days.
Saied announced after a crisis meeting with representatives of the military and security authorities that he would take over the business of government together with a new prime minister. Parliament’s activities would be suspended, the President ordered. In addition, the immunity of all MPs would be lifted.
Horn concerts for the president
“We are working within the legal framework,” said Saied. He threatened to use the army if there was violent resistance. A power struggle has been going on for months between the former law professor Saied and Mechichi and parliament.
The Islamic conservative Ennahda, which is the largest party in the government, spoke of a “coup d’état”. “What Saied is doing is a coup against the revolution and against the constitution,” the party said on its Facebook page. “The Ennahda members and the Tunisian people will defend the revolution.”
In the capital Tunis, Saied’s supporters expressed their support after his decision with horn concerts. Larger demonstrations, called for by activists on social media, also took place.
Severe corona outbreak
The president’s decision was preceded by violent protests in several cities across the country. The demonstrators called for the resignation of the government, the dissolution of parliament and new elections. On Sunday there were clashes between demonstrators and the police in Tunis. The security forces used tear gas. Protesters apparently stormed the Ennahda party offices. Riots also broke out in the cities of Nabeul, Sousse, Kairouan, Sfax and Tozeur.
The protesters’ displeasure was directed against the current government policy. The country is struggling with an economic crisis, an impending budget crisis and slow coping with the corona pandemic. Tunisia is currently struggling with one of the worst corona outbreaks in Africa and has therefore again imposed lockdowns and other requirements. So far, 555,000 corona infections and around 18,000 deaths have been reported. The vaccinations are making slow progress.