Tunisian President Kais Saied, who granted himself full powers a month ago, extended “until further notice” the freezing of Parliament, plunging a little more the young democracy into the unknown, into a context of acute economic and social crisis.
The presidency published a brief statement on his Facebook account: the Head of State “issued a presidential decree extending the exceptional measures concerning the freezing of Parliament’s activities as well as the lifting of the immunity of all deputies, until further notice”.
Parliament, “a danger to the state”?
“The Parliament is a danger for the State”, declared Tuesday Mr. Saied, during an interview with the Minister of Commerce, Mohamed Boussaïd, to justify the measures taken in this country of North Africa which constitutes, ten years later, the only survivor of the “Arab Spring”.
“Existing political institutions and the way they function represent a persistent danger for the state”, Tunisian President Kais Saied
The Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, the main parliamentary force, expressed its “concern after the unconstitutional extension of the exceptional measures” on Tuesday evening.
He reiterated his “principled position” considering the decisions taken by Mr. Said on July 25 as a “flagrant violation of the constitution”.
Kais Saied’s coup dates back to July 25. This lawyer by training invoked an article of the constitution which envisages exceptional measures in the event of “imminent danger” to national security to grant himself full powers, dismiss the head of government Hichem Mechichi and suspend Parliament for an initial period of 30 days.
“Next days”
While Mr. Saied has remained silent lately, this decision to extend the freeze on parliamentary activities was “expected”, reacted Tuesday to AFP political scientist Slaheddine Jourchi, evoking “a certain slowness since July 25 in taking important action”.
According to him, the president wants to show, “inside as well as outside, that he is not in a hurry and that he is serene”.
It “prepares the ground for measures which could be more radical”, such as “the freezing of the Constitution or its abolition and the dissolution of Parliament”, argued Mr. Jourchi.
“It has become clear that the president does not want anyone other than himself in power”, Political scientist Slaheddine Jourchi, on President Saied’s coup
Faced with the growing extent of doubts about the Head of State’s intentions, the presidency indicated that he would address himself “in the coming days to the Tunisian people”.
Since his coup, Kais Saied has still not appointed a new government or unveiled a “road map” demanded by several political parties and civil society organizations.
His decision has been described as a “coup” by some jurists and his political opponents, in particular the Ennahdha party.
Anti Corruption
Faced with the charges, Mr. Saied reiterates that he is acting strictly “within the framework of the law” and of the Constitution, adopted in 2014.
Many Tunisians have also enthusiastically welcomed its measures: exasperated by their political class, they expect strong action against corruption and impunity in a country where the social, economic, and health situation is very difficult.
But if the president enjoys strong popularity in Tunisia, his brilliant coup worries the international community, which fears that the cradle of the Arab Spring is regressing towards authoritarianism.
On Tuesday, France said it had “taken note of President Saied’s decision”.
Paris “stands alongside Tunisia to meet” the challenges it is facing and which call for urgent measures that President Saïed is committed to taking while respecting popular legitimacy”, told AFP a spokesperson for the Quai d’Orsay.
Decline in freedoms
Since July 25, an anti-corruption purge has focused on fears of a decline in freedoms in Tunisia.
Former officials, businessmen, magistrates, and deputies are targeted by arrests, travel bans, and house arrest, by simple decision of the Ministry of the Interior, without justification, have denounced human rights defenders.
