Tunisia: President dissolves parliament after it votes online to reject his power grab
Kais Saied denounced parliament's move as a 'coup attempt,' saying those responsible had 'betrayed' the nation
Tunisian President Kais Saied chairing the National Security Council, 30 March 2022 (AFP)
By
MEE and agencies
Published date: 31 March 2022
Tunisia's President Kais Saied on Wednesday dissolved the country's parliament and said MPs would be prosecuted, extending an eight-month power grab and intensifying the country's political crisis.
Saied made the announcement at a meeting of the National Security Council, hours after parliamentarians held a plenary session online and voted through a bill against "exceptional measures" taken by Saied last year.
"Today, at this historic moment, I announce the dissolution of the Assembly of Representatives of the people, to preserve the state and its institutions," he said in a statement carried on state TV.
He denounced parliament's move as a "coup attempt" and said those responsible had "betrayed" the nation.
"They will be criminally prosecuted," Saied said.
The country's official gazette confirmed Saied had issued a decree late on Wednesday dissolving parliament.
Zoom and Teams down
The online video applications Zoom and Teams had stopped working across Tunisia on Wednesday afternoon as the country's lawmakers held their first session online since Saied's suspension of parliament.
Tunisian journalists and Middle East Eye sources on the ground confirmed that the two platforms were inaccessible from 2pm on Wednesday, when the online parliamentary meeting was scheduled to begin on Zoom.
Tunisia: Parliament votes to reject Saied's 'coup' with Zoom and Teams down
Power grab
On 25 July, Saied announced a raft of controversial measures, revealed by Middle East Eye two months earlier, including the suspension of parliament and the sacking of the prime minister.
The president also shut down the country's independent national Anti-Corruption Authority and sidelined the Independent High Authority for Elections.
Last month, he dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council - the body that deals with judicial independence - and granted himself control over the selection and promotion of judges.
Saied has cited rocketing unemployment, rampant corruption and the coronavirus pandemic as reasons for his power grab.
His measures have been followed by a crackdown on the opposition and their protests.
Many have faced trials before military and civilian courts and given jail sentences for charges denounced by rights groups as politically motivated.
Lawmakers raise 'serious doubts' about Tunisian President Kais Saied's commitment to democracy and call on White House to promote good governance initiatives
A woman holds a copy of the Tunisian constitution during a demonstration in the capital Tunis against President Kais Saied's recent decrees, on 13 February 2022 (AFP)
Kais Saied denounced parliament's move as a 'coup attempt,' saying those responsible had 'betrayed' the nation
Tunisian President Kais Saied chairing the National Security Council, 30 March 2022 (AFP)
By
MEE and agencies
Published date: 31 March 2022
Tunisia's President Kais Saied on Wednesday dissolved the country's parliament and said MPs would be prosecuted, extending an eight-month power grab and intensifying the country's political crisis.
Saied made the announcement at a meeting of the National Security Council, hours after parliamentarians held a plenary session online and voted through a bill against "exceptional measures" taken by Saied last year.
"Today, at this historic moment, I announce the dissolution of the Assembly of Representatives of the people, to preserve the state and its institutions," he said in a statement carried on state TV.
He denounced parliament's move as a "coup attempt" and said those responsible had "betrayed" the nation.
"They will be criminally prosecuted," Saied said.
The country's official gazette confirmed Saied had issued a decree late on Wednesday dissolving parliament.
Zoom and Teams down
The online video applications Zoom and Teams had stopped working across Tunisia on Wednesday afternoon as the country's lawmakers held their first session online since Saied's suspension of parliament.
Tunisian journalists and Middle East Eye sources on the ground confirmed that the two platforms were inaccessible from 2pm on Wednesday, when the online parliamentary meeting was scheduled to begin on Zoom.
Tunisia: Parliament votes to reject Saied's 'coup' with Zoom and Teams down
Read More »
The official website of parliament was also blocked, according to the same sources.
After the two platforms were blocked, the MPs moved their meeting to the GoToMeeting platform, a source from the Ennahda party's media office told MEE.
Some 123 MPs took part in the session, which was convened to vote on controversial measures taken by Saied last July, including the suspension of parliament and the sacking of the prime minister, along with the seizure of vast judicial and legislative powers.
The move has been denounced as a coup by most political parties.
Towards the end of the session, 116 MPs voted in favour of the law that was intended to invalidate Saied's power grab.
Parliament required 109 votes to pass a law.
The official website of parliament was also blocked, according to the same sources.
After the two platforms were blocked, the MPs moved their meeting to the GoToMeeting platform, a source from the Ennahda party's media office told MEE.
Some 123 MPs took part in the session, which was convened to vote on controversial measures taken by Saied last July, including the suspension of parliament and the sacking of the prime minister, along with the seizure of vast judicial and legislative powers.
The move has been denounced as a coup by most political parties.
Towards the end of the session, 116 MPs voted in favour of the law that was intended to invalidate Saied's power grab.
Parliament required 109 votes to pass a law.
Power grab
On 25 July, Saied announced a raft of controversial measures, revealed by Middle East Eye two months earlier, including the suspension of parliament and the sacking of the prime minister.
The president also shut down the country's independent national Anti-Corruption Authority and sidelined the Independent High Authority for Elections.
Last month, he dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council - the body that deals with judicial independence - and granted himself control over the selection and promotion of judges.
Saied has cited rocketing unemployment, rampant corruption and the coronavirus pandemic as reasons for his power grab.
His measures have been followed by a crackdown on the opposition and their protests.
Many have faced trials before military and civilian courts and given jail sentences for charges denounced by rights groups as politically motivated.
House Democrats raise concerns with Biden over Tunisia's democratic backslide
A woman holds a copy of the Tunisian constitution during a demonstration in the capital Tunis against President Kais Saied's recent decrees, on 13 February 2022 (AFP)
By MEE staff
Published date: 29 March 2022
A group of House Democrats are calling on the Biden administration to consider Tunisia's "democratic backsliding" when reviewing US assistance to the North African country for the coming fiscal year.
In a letter sent to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on 25 March, the 23 Democratic members of Congress said the State Department should prioritise programmes that support the restoration of democratic governance, due process, and the rule of law in the country.
The letter also called for assistance to the country's internal security force to be "carefully reviewed", given its role in the repression of Tunisian citizens.
Tunisia's Saied warns lawmakers against holding sessions of suspended parliament
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Since 2011, Tunisia has received nearly $685m in assistance from Washington through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
"The president's public statements rejecting the principle of a directly elected national legislature and characterizing critics as traitors are deeply concerning and raises serious doubts about his commitment to democratic checks and balances in any new Tunisian political system to emerge from this process," the lawmakers said.
"The power of Tunisia's positive example of peaceful democratic pluralism must not be a casualty of the real frustrations many Tunisians express over ongoing economic stagnation, high-level corruption and abuse of office, and police brutality."
The effort was led by Congressman Gregory Meeks, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congressman Ted Deutch, chair of the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism Subcommittee.
The letter comes amid a series of moves taken by President Kais Saied that have caused concern in Washington, including the dissolution of the Supreme Judicial Council and a draft law that could end the foreign funding of civil society groups.
US stresses importance of inclusive reform
Last month, Saied cemented his grip on power by dissolving the Supreme Judicial Council - the body that deals with judicial independence - and granted himself control over the selection and promotion of judges.
The move came months after he suspended parliament and assumed executive powers, in a move seen by critics as a coup.
In addition to freezing parliament, he also shut down the country's independent National Anti-Corruption Authority and sidelined the Independent High Authority for Elections.
Tunis and the IMF are currently in preliminary talks, with an eye on a potential multibillion-dollar rescue deal for an economy that has been battered by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Biden urged to press Tunisia's Saied on restoring democracy
Since 2011, Tunisia has received nearly $685m in assistance from Washington through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
"The president's public statements rejecting the principle of a directly elected national legislature and characterizing critics as traitors are deeply concerning and raises serious doubts about his commitment to democratic checks and balances in any new Tunisian political system to emerge from this process," the lawmakers said.
"The power of Tunisia's positive example of peaceful democratic pluralism must not be a casualty of the real frustrations many Tunisians express over ongoing economic stagnation, high-level corruption and abuse of office, and police brutality."
The effort was led by Congressman Gregory Meeks, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congressman Ted Deutch, chair of the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism Subcommittee.
The letter comes amid a series of moves taken by President Kais Saied that have caused concern in Washington, including the dissolution of the Supreme Judicial Council and a draft law that could end the foreign funding of civil society groups.
US stresses importance of inclusive reform
Last month, Saied cemented his grip on power by dissolving the Supreme Judicial Council - the body that deals with judicial independence - and granted himself control over the selection and promotion of judges.
The move came months after he suspended parliament and assumed executive powers, in a move seen by critics as a coup.
In addition to freezing parliament, he also shut down the country's independent National Anti-Corruption Authority and sidelined the Independent High Authority for Elections.
Tunis and the IMF are currently in preliminary talks, with an eye on a potential multibillion-dollar rescue deal for an economy that has been battered by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Biden urged to press Tunisia's Saied on restoring democracy
Read More »
For months, the Biden administration's response to Tunisia's democratic backsliding has been filled with ambiguity, with the White House urging Saied to restore the country's parliamentary democracy but stopping short of calling the power grab a coup.
In December, when Saied announced a political "roadmap", the State Department issued a statement welcoming the news and saying it remained "committed to the US-Tunisia partnership".
Last week, Uzra Zeya, the State Department's undersecretary of state for civilian security, democracy, and human rights, visited Tunisia and met with a number of government officials including Prime Minister Najla Bouden and Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi.
During her meetings, she voiced US concerns for Tunisia's democratic trajectory and "the importance of an inclusive political and economic reform process that gives civil society a strong voice".
But the undersecretary was also "heartened by government assurances of inclusivity during implementation" of Saied's political roadmap.
For months, the Biden administration's response to Tunisia's democratic backsliding has been filled with ambiguity, with the White House urging Saied to restore the country's parliamentary democracy but stopping short of calling the power grab a coup.
In December, when Saied announced a political "roadmap", the State Department issued a statement welcoming the news and saying it remained "committed to the US-Tunisia partnership".
Last week, Uzra Zeya, the State Department's undersecretary of state for civilian security, democracy, and human rights, visited Tunisia and met with a number of government officials including Prime Minister Najla Bouden and Foreign Minister Othman Jerandi.
During her meetings, she voiced US concerns for Tunisia's democratic trajectory and "the importance of an inclusive political and economic reform process that gives civil society a strong voice".
But the undersecretary was also "heartened by government assurances of inclusivity during implementation" of Saied's political roadmap.
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