In Tunisia, President Saied surprised with a potentially far-reaching step: He dismissed the Prime Minister.
Apparently he has the backing of the military.
Tunis - While some celebrated on the street, others fear a return to authoritarian rule: In Tunisia the crisis is coming to a head.
A power struggle has been raging at the political top in the country for months.
Now there was a surprising step.
Tunisia's President Kais Saied has removed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi from his office and suspended the work of parliament for the time being. After a crisis meeting on Sunday evening, the president announced that he would take over the business of government together with a new prime minister. Representatives of the military and security authorities were also present at the meeting. The work of parliament, in turn, is to be suspended for 30 days, according to the presidential office. There is an official announcement on Facebook.
“We are experiencing one of the most sensitive moments in Tunisian history.
It is indeed the most dangerous minutes, ”Saied said in a video address.
He is sitting at the head of a conference table, next to the Tunisian flag, together with some military and other officials.
“We work within the legal framework,” said Saied.
Article 80 of the constitution grants him the right to take extraordinary measures in the event of a "serious threat to the unity, security and independence of the country".
Tense situation in Tunisia: Parliament surrounded by security forces
As a result, the situation in Tunisia was tense on Monday morning.
The parliament in the capital Tunis was surrounded by security forces.
Angry demonstrators went there and demanded access.
Some tried to climb over the gate.
There were also arguments.
A power struggle has been raging for months between the former law professor Saied, who has been in office since October 2019, as well as Mechichi and parliament.
Most recently there were protests critical of the government in several parts of the country due to the high number of corona cases and an ongoing economic crisis.
The demonstrators called for the resignation of the government and the dissolution of parliament.
The corona situation on site is tense: While the vaccinations are only progressing slowly, there is a sharp increase in the number of cases.
Prime Minister fired: Largest party in Tunisia speaks of a "coup"
The Islamic conservative Ennahda, the largest party in the country, spoke of a “coup d'état” after the announcements.
The Tunisians would defend the success of their "revolution", Ennahda boss Rached Ghannouchi said
on Facebook - apparently in relation to the Arab uprisings of 2011. Tunisia has since then been the only country in the region to make the transition to democracy, but is fighting further against high unemployment and widespread corruption.
The Ennahda boss added that it was a “coup” against the constitution.
There were reports of attacks on several party's offices on Sunday evening.
In Tunis, the police prevented an attack on their party headquarters.
Supporters of Tunisia's President Saied celebrate on the streets in Tunisia
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Tunisian security forces and protesters during a rally against the Ennahdha party and the government in front of the parliament on Sunday
© Jdidi Wassim / dpa
Hundreds of Saied supporters celebrated in the center of Tunis that evening.
They lit flares and fireworks, waved flags and sang the national anthem.
According to eyewitnesses, army soldiers were deployed in several parts of the capital to protect public facilities.
Military helicopters circled over the parliament in Tunis at night.
At that time, Saied showed up again in the center of Tunis to greet his supporters.
It was not a coup d'état, he assured me.
Many Tunisians have lost confidence in the political elite and are likely to see Saied's announcements as long overdue action.
Critics, on the other hand, fear a return to authoritarian rule such as under the long-term ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who had been in power in Tunisia for more than 20 years before his fall in 2011.
Government in Germany reacts: "Return to constitutional order really quickly"
On Monday, the federal government was “very concerned” about the recent escalation of the political situation in Tunisia.
"We think that it is now important to get back to constitutional order really quickly," said a spokeswoman for the Federal Foreign Office.
All sides were called upon to “guarantee compliance and implementation of the constitution in Tunisia”.
This also includes compliance with the rights of freedom, which were one of the most important achievements of the Tunisian revolution.
(dpa / cibo)
List of rubric lists: © Jdidi Wassim / dpa