President Kais Saied, who granted himself full powers in Tunisia a month ago, extended "
until further notice
" the freezing of Parliament, plunging the young democracy a little more into the unknown, in a context acute economic and social crisis.
Read also Tunisia: the coup by President Kaïs Saïed against the Islamist camp
"
Parliament is a danger for the state,
" Kais Saied said Tuesday, August 24, during an interview with the Minister of Commerce, Mohamed Boussaïd. "
The existing political institutions and their way of functioning represent a persistent danger for the State
", he again said to justify the measures taken in this North African country which constitutes, ten years later, the only survivor of the “
Arab Spring
”. Hours earlier, the Presidency issued a brief statement on his Facebook account: the head of state "
issued a presidential decree extending the exceptional measures for the freezing of the activities of Parliament and the lifting of immunity of all deputies until further notice
”.
"
Imminent danger
"
Kais Saied's coup dates back to July 25.
On that date, 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.
While Kais Saied has remained silent lately, this decision to extend the freeze on parliamentary activities was "
expected
", political scientist Slaheddine Jourchi reacted Tuesday to AFP, citing "
a certain slowness since July 25 in the taking significant 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 him in power
”.
Faced with the growing extent of doubts about the intentions of the Head of State, 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 called a "
coup
" by some jurists and his political opponents, in particular the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, the main parliamentary force. Monday evening, shortly before the presidential announcement, this movement announced in a press release the replacement of all of its executive office "
in order to meet the demands of the current period
”.
He has yet to react to the extension of the parliament freeze.
Concern of the international community
Faced with the accusations, Kais Saied repeats acting strictly "
within the framework of the law
" and of the Constitution, adopted in 2014. Many Tunisians have also enthusiastically welcomed his measures: exasperated by their political class, they expect strong acts against corruption and impunity in a country where the social, economic and health situation is very difficult.
But if the president enjoys a strong popularity in Tunisia, his brilliant coup worries the international community, which fears that the cradle of the Arab Spring is regressing towards authoritarianism.
To read also "In Tunisia, the state of emergency proclaimed by the president respects the Constitution"
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 has pledged to take with respect for popular legitimacy, told AFP a door - speech of the Quai d'Orsay.
Since July 25, an anti-corruption purge has focused 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. Legal theorist, Kais Saied has presented himself since coming to power in 2019 as the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution. "
Freedom of movement is a constitutional right
"
,
has he recently assured. "
But some people will have to answer to justice before they can travel
."
