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Protest in Tunis: Tunisia's President Saied is also under pressure because of the country's economic hardship
Photo: ZOUBEIR SOUISSI / REUTERS
Tunisia's President Kais Saied has been under criticism for a long time.
After a wave of arrests of members of the opposition, the largest protest rally against the head of state to date has now taken place.
Thousands took to the streets in Tunis on Saturday.
The demonstrators gathered in the center of the capital to demonstrate against Saied's political course and the deteriorating situation in the country, eyewitnesses said.
The influential Tunisian trade union federation UGTT, which is one of the president's most important opponents, had called for the protest.
"Oppression and tyranny" will not exist in Tunisia, union boss Noureddine Taboubi said in front of the organization's headquarters.
"We're not afraid of jail or arrest," he called out to the crowd.
Banners read inscriptions such as "No to one-man rule."
Saied secures more and more power
Security forces were in action.
There were initially no reports of incidents.
One participant told the dpa news agency: "I am disappointed that the President is not doing anything to alleviate the plight of the people." The trade unions sought a peaceful dialogue.
It is not just economic hardship that is bringing people in Tunisia onto the streets.
Above all, Saied's opponents fear that the president wants to turn North Africa's last democratic state into an autocracy and roll back the democratic gains of the 2011 Arab Spring revolution that began in Tunisia.
Saied is gaining more and more power.
To this end, he dissolved parliament and had a new, significantly weakened representative body elected.
The head of state also introduced a controversial new constitution, thanks to which he can also appoint and dismiss judges of his own accord.
Dozens of critics arrested
Saied is also increasingly fighting political opponents.
Dozens of critics including opposition politicians, judges, a journalist and a UGTT representative were arrested.
They are accused of corruption and "conspiracy against state security".
Human Rights Watch said there was no solid evidence.
The pressure against international trade unionists is also increasing.
The General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation ETUC, Esther Lynch, was expelled after taking part in a protest in Tunisia.
A representative of the Spanish trade union federation UGT was prevented from entering the country.
asc/dpa/Reuters