Tunisian President Kais Saied said on Tuesday that his country was
"ruled by a mafia"
by attacking politicians he accuses of corruption and says he wants to fight by taking full powers in July.
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“It is a state with two regimes. an apparent regime, that of institutions, and a real regime, that of the mafia that governs Tunisia, ”
said Kais Saied while receiving lawyers, according to a video posted on the presidency's Facebook page.
"I will not dialogue with thieves,"
he added.
On July 25, Kais Saied sacked the prime minister, suspended the activities of Parliament and also arrogated the judiciary, for a renewable month before extending these measures on August 24,
"until further notice".
Constitution reform
He announced this weekend the appointment
"as soon as possible"
of a new government and spoke of an upcoming reform of the Constitution.
“The government will come, but you have to know what policy it will implement. The goal is to respond to the demands of the Tunisian people
, ”he said Tuesday.
"It is out of the question to deal with thieves or with traitors,"
he added. For several days the media have been speculating on the forthcoming announcement of a provisional government followed by a revision of the Constitution which must then be submitted to universal suffrage via a referendum, before new legislative elections.
Legal theorist, Kais Saied has been presenting himself since his surprise election by a large majority at the end of 2019 as the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution. It relied on its article 80 which envisages exceptional measures in the event of
"imminent danger"
to national security, to justify the decisions taken more than a month and a half ago. Many Tunisians welcomed them with enthusiasm because, exasperated by their political class, they expect strong acts against corruption and impunity in a country in serious social and economic difficulties.
But opponents, political parties, magistrates and lawyers have said they fear an
"authoritarian drift".
The Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, Kais Saied's main rival and which had the most seats in the frozen parliament, expressed
"its categorical rejection"
of
"any suspension of the application of the Constitution"
or
"change of
the constitution".
political system, possibly via a referendum ”.