Tunisian President: Said expands powers

Tunisia’s President Saeed will be given much greater powers. He had announced that he would rule by decree in the future. In July he suspended Parliament and plunged the country into trouble.

The political crisis in Tunisia, North Africa, is deepening. Nearly two months after ousting the government and parliament, President Kais Saied expanded his powers. Syed announced that he would rule by decree in the future – with practically no further control or influence from Parliament or the government.

In a number of decrees published in the Tunisian Official Gazette, Sayed gave himself the authority to legislate and run a government “with the help” of a cabinet and head of government. In July, with the aid of an emergency article of the constitution, he deposed Prime Minister Hichame Mechichi, suspended parliament work and removed the immunity of parliamentarians. This had plunged the country into a constitutional crisis.

protests in tunisia

With the move, President Saeed suspended parts of the new constitution, which was drafted after the 2011 revolution and the overthrow of long-time ruler Ben Ali. The Islamist Enhdha Party accused him of a “coup”.

Sayeed had earlier promised the appointment of a new prime minister in a speech. The emergency law will remain in force, the head of state said in a televised speech from the city. Last weekend, hundreds of people took to the streets in the capital Tunis against Syed.

Country of Origin of Arab Spring 2011

The President took power two months ago. He sacked Prime Minister Hikeme Meichi and other high-ranking government officials and sent parliament on a 30-day break. However, at that time he promised to appoint a new head of government within a period of 30 days. In his address, Sayeed again said that his actions are in accordance with the Constitution.

Tunisia is considered the starting point of the Arab Spring and is the only state that has achieved political upheaval towards democracy. However, the country is politically unstable: Tunisia has had nine governments since the 2011 revolution, and the parliament was seen as fragmented and incapable of acting.