Tunisian president ousts Islamist-backed government, freezes parliament

SMA NEWS – TUNIS

Tunisia’s president dismissed the government and froze parliament on Sunday, prompting cheering crowds to take to the streets in support of his move while Islamist opponents called it “a coup” against the constitution.

President Kais Saied said he would assume executive authority with the assistance of a new prime minister, in the sharpest crisis yet to face Tunisia’s democratic transition since the 2011 uprising.

Clearly relived by the president’s decisions, crowds of people quickly flooded the capital and other cities, cheering and honking car horns.

Saied said he had also suspended the legal immunity of parliament members and that he was taking control of the general prosecutor’s office.

He warned against any armed response to his actions. “Whoever shoots a bullet, the armed forces will respond with bullets,” said Saied, who has support from a wide array of Tunisians.

Although there are still questions about the extent of support for Saied’s moves against a fragile government, largely seen as inept, and a fractious parliament embroiled in sterile disputes, the population seemed to clearly welcome Saied’s actions.

Hours after the statement, military vehicles surrounded the parliament building as people nearby cheered and sang the national anthem.

Protests, called by social media activists but not backed by any of the big political parties, took place on Sunday with much of the anger focused on the Ennahda party.

The move of President came after a day of protests against the government and the biggest party in parliament, the Islamist Ennahda, following a spike in COVID-19 cases and growing anger over chronic political dysfunction and economic malaise.

Successive governments failed to deliver sound governance or prosperity.