Tunisian President: Saied extends powers

Tunisia’s President Saied will be given significantly more powers. He had announced that he would rule by decree in the future. In July he suspended parliament and plunged the country into crisis.

In Tunisia, North Africa, the political crisis is worsening. Almost two months after the government and parliament were ousted, President Kais Saied expanded his powers. Saied announced that he would rule by decree in the future – with practically no further control or influence from a parliament or government.

In several decrees published in the Tunisian Official Gazette, Saied gave himself the right to legislate and to run government “with the help” of a cabinet and a head of government. In July, with the aid of an emergency article of the constitution, he had deposed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, suspended the work of parliament and lifted the immunity of MPs. That had thrown the country into a constitutional crisis.

Protests in Tunis

With this move, President Saied suspended parts of the new constitution that had been drawn up in 2011 after the revolution and the overthrow of long-term ruler Ben Ali. The Islamist Ennahdha party accused him of a “coup”.

Saied had previously promised the appointment of a new prime minister in a speech. The emergency legislation would remain in force, the head of state said in a televised speech from the city. Last weekend hundreds of people took to the streets against Saied in the capital Tunis.

Country of origin of the Arab Spring 2011

Two months ago, the president took over government. He dismissed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and other high-ranking government officials and sent parliament on a 30-day break. However, at the time he had promised to appoint a new head of government within the 30-day period. In his address, Saied again stated that his actions are in accordance with the constitution.

Tunisia is considered the starting point of the Arab Spring and the only state that has achieved the political upheaval towards democracy. However, the country is politically unstable: there have been nine governments in Tunisia since the 2011 revolution, and parliament was seen as fragmented and incapable of acting.