Demonstrators in the Tunisian capital called for the restoration of the country's constitution and the activation of constitutional institutions, especially Parliament, which was suspended after the exceptional measures announced by President Kais Saied on July 25.
The protesters raised slogans calling for the preservation of the gains of the revolution, especially the freedoms, which they say have become threatened in light of the security and military prosecutions of a number of Saeed's opponents.
This follows calls from Tunisian activists to protest against what they call a coup against legitimate institutions and the country's constitution.
Within about two months, about 70 people were placed under house arrest, including two judges, a security leader, two parliamentarians, the former head of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Shawki al-Tabib, and the former Minister of Transport and Ennahda Movement leader Anwar Maarouf, and 19 ministers and governors were dismissed in exchange for the appointment of 11 new officials.
In this report, we review the most prominent events that Tunisia witnessed, starting with the actions of President Kais Saied until now:
Sunday 25 July 2021
- The Tunisian President announced, after an emergency meeting with military and security leaders, that Hicham Al-Mashishi was relieved of his post, and that the work and powers of Parliament would be suspended for 30 days.
Saeed decided to take over the executive power with the help of a prime minister appointed by him.
Most of the parliamentary blocs in Tunisia opposed these decisions, as the Ennahda movement (53 deputies out of 217) considered them a "coup", and the Qalb Tounes bloc (29 deputies) considered it a "grave breach of the constitution", and the Democratic Current bloc (22 deputies) rejected the consequences. The Dignity Coalition bloc (18 seats) described it as "false", while the People's Movement supported it (15 deputies).
- Riad Al-Shuaibi, political advisor to the President of the Ennahda Movement, called on state institutions not to implement Said's decisions.
Monday 26 July
An army force prevents Ghannouchi and his first deputy, Samira Chaouachi, from entering Parliament.
Clashes between supporters and opponents of the decision to freeze the powers of Parliament in front of the House of Representatives in the capital, and security intervened to dissolve it.
Security forces storm the office of Al-Jazeera news channel in the capital, and ask the correspondents to leave the place.
- Said issues a decision relieving Minister of Defense Ibrahim El-Bartajy and Acting Minister of Justice Hasnaa bin Suleiman, in addition to El-Mashichi from their posts.
Saeed decides to suspend work in government institutions for two days, with the exception of the army, police and health teams.
Saeed imposes a night curfew in the country from seven in the evening until six in the morning, lasting for a month.
The decision also stipulated the prohibition of any gathering of more than 3 people on the public road and in public squares
Clashes broke out in the streets between supporters and opponents of President Said outside the fortified parliament building, injuring several people.
The Ministry of Interior closed the Al-Jazeera office in the capital, Tunis.
Parliament strongly condemns - in a statement - Saeed's decisions, declaring its absolute rejection of them.
- Rached Ghannouchi confirmed in a press statement that the Assembly of the Representatives of the People is in place and will complete its work.
- The Tunisian General Labor Union (the oldest labor organization in the country) called for the need to take constitutional guarantees accompanying the exceptional measures taken by Said.
Al-Karama Coalition (18 deputies) expressed its categorical rejection of Said's decisions, calling on the people to defend their freedom and revolution.
Saeed said that he made decisions based on what the constitution authorizes, and he wonders how some people are talking about a coup, pointing out that they are compatible with the constitution.
- Said called, during a meeting with members of the Tunisian Supreme Judicial Council, not to slip behind the advocates of chaos, stressing the independence of the judiciary at the delicate stage in Tunisia's history.
Al-Mashishi announced in a statement that he will hand over the responsibility to the person whom the president will assign to head the government, and that he is lining up as always on the side of the people.
- Head of the Free Destourian Party and its parliamentary bloc (16 deputies) Abeer Moussa welcomed Said's decisions, calling for the need for radical reform.
Tuesday 27 July
- Said relieved officials in high positions in the state from their duties, in a new package of dismissals, according to what was stated in the latest publications of Al-Raed (the official newspaper of Tunisia).
The exemptions included Al-Muizz Li-Din Allah Al-Muqaddam, director of the office of the dismissed Prime Minister (Al-Mishi), and the government's general secretary, Walid Al-Dhahabi.
- It also included all the advisors of the Prime Minister, who was the article, namely: Rashad bin Ramadan, Salim Al-Tisawi and Mufdi Al-Masdi, and the head of the General Authority for Martyrs and Wounded People of the Revolution and Terrorist Operations, Abdul Razzaq Al-Kilani.
- According to a statement issued by its executive office after an emergency meeting, the Ennahda movement called on political and civil forces to intensify consultations on the latest developments in order to preserve democratic gains.
- Said held talks with the General Labor Union within the framework of its first major meetings since the crisis.
Wednesday 28 July
The Tunisian judiciary has opened an investigation with 3 political parties, Ennahda, Qalb Tounes and Live Tounsi, on suspicion of receiving foreign funds during the 2019 election campaign, according to what was reported by the media about the spokesperson for the Court of First Instance in Tunis.
President Qais Saeed, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, meets with members of the Supreme Council of Armies and senior security leaders.
- The president meets with the head of the Tunisian Federation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, Samir Majoul, announcing that 460 people looted Tunisian money, and he offered them a settlement if they were returned.
- The Tunisian President decides to relieve the Director General of the National Television in Tunisia, Mohamed Lassad Al-Dahesh, from his post, and assign Awatef Al-Dali to run the institution temporarily.
- A presidential decision to create an operation room to manage the Corona pandemic and implement the national vaccination strategy.
Thursday 29 July
- A presidential order assigning the advisor to the Presidency of the Republic in the National Security Department, Reda Gharslawi, to run the Ministry of the Interior, and Gharslawi took the constitutional oath before the president.
- The Tunisian General Labor Union announced that it is preparing a road map to be presented to the President of the Republic, Kais Saied, to get the country out of the current political crisis.
- The Public Prosecutor of the Court of Appeal in Tunis authorizes the opening of an investigation against the former head of the National Anti-Corruption Authority, Chawki Tabib, regarding the complaint submitted by the Transparency and Good Governance Observatory regarding “violations that affected the financial and administrative behavior of the authority during his presidency.”
- A judicial investigation was opened with deputies in Parliament, including the head of the "Dignity Coalition" bloc, Seif El-Din Makhlouf, the head of the Arbitration and Reconciliation Committee of the Truth and Dignity Commission, Khaled Al-Kraishi, Mabrouk Kurshid, Mahdi Zagrouba (lawyer), and Samah Khumassi (lawyer).
Tunisian journalist Ziad Al-Hani announced that he has filed two cases with the Administrative Court to cancel the recent decisions taken by the President of the Republic.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken calls on Kais Saied to return to the democratic path.
Blinken expressed his country's fears that Tunisia could deviate from its democratic path and take steps that contradict the constitution, such as freezing parliament's activity.
- Leaders in the Ennahda movement went to hold their party part of the responsibility for what happened, despite some describing what happened as “unconstitutional.” The prominent leader of the movement, Ali Al-Arid, published a lengthy post - on his Facebook page - in which he presented his own vision of the current events in Tunisia.
Friday 30 July
- The Official Gazette published the presidential order suspending the functions of the House of Representatives, and lifting the immunity of members for a period of one month, subject to extension.
Tunisian security forces arrested two deputies, Maher Zaid and Yassin Ayari.
- A presidential decree terminating the duties of Mohamed Ali Al Nafti, Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Tunisians Abroad.
- A presidential decree dismissing Al-Azhar Longo, the director general of the relevant departments of the Ministry of Interior, which includes the intelligence service.
The judiciary opens an investigation with 4 members of the Ennahda party - including Ghannouchi's bodyguard - on charges of attempting to carry out acts of violence in front of Parliament.
A presidential decision to reduce the curfew hours, starting from the first of August, to be 7 hours instead of 11 hours.
Saturday 31 July
Hours later, MP Maher Zaid was released after lawyer Hanan Khamiri announced that her client had entered a hunger strike to protest his arrest.
- The security authorities placed Judge Al-Bashir Al-Akrami under house arrest, the judge who investigated the assassination of prominent leftist opponents Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi in 2013.
- The military judiciary issues arrest warrants against 4 members of the "Dignity Coalition" parliamentary bloc, which are the head of the bloc, Seif El-Din Makhlouf, and MPs Abdul Latif Al-Alawi, Muhammad Afas and Maher Zaid (he was arrested again hours after his release).
The head of the Ennahda movement, Rached Ghannouchi, postpones the meeting of the movement’s Shura Council.
Ghannouchi was exposed to a health problem, as a result of which he was transferred to the hospital, and left after conducting the necessary examinations and receiving treatment.
- The Tunisian president urges banks and financial institutions to reduce interest rates "to support the national effort for rescue and reduce financial burdens on citizens."
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan spoke with Tunisian President Kais Saied, and assured him of President Joe Biden's strong support for the Tunisian people and for democracy in Tunisia, noting that Biden demanded a return to the democratic path.
Sunday 1 August
- The National Council of Ennahda Youth calls on the movement’s leader, Rached Ghannouchi, to “form a national leadership that includes youth competencies” with the aim of “save the political track in the country.”
Maher Madhoub, Assistant Speaker of the Tunisian Parliament (Parliament), announces that Ghannouchi "has never and will never consider leaving the country," denying the validity of reports that he requested medical treatment abroad.
- The Ennahda Movement announces its readiness to make the necessary concessions for the return of the democratic path, including preparing the country for early elections.
Ghannouchi was transferred to the military hospital in the capital, after he fell ill as a result of his previous infection with the Corona virus, and he was discharged from the hospital about an hour later.
Monday 2 August
- The military court cancels the arrest warrant for lawyer Mahdi Zagrouba and parliamentarians from the "Dignity Coalition" Seif El-Din Makhlouf, Nidal Al-Saudi, Abdel-Latif Al-Alawi and Muhammad Al-Afas, "pending the completion of the legal procedures against them."
- A presidential decision to relieve two new ministers from their positions, one of whom is the Minister of Economy and Investment Support, Ali Al-Kaali, and Siham Al-Boughdiri was appointed as his successor, and the second is Mohamed Al-Fadil Karim, the Minister of Communication Technologies, the Acting Minister of Agriculture, Fishing and Water Resources, and the assignment of Nizar Bennaji to run the ministry.
Tuesday 3 August
- A presidential decision to dismiss the country's ambassador to Washington, Najm El-Din El-Akhal, and the governor of Sfax governorate (south), Anis Oueslati.
The General Labor Union demands the formation of a mini-government with specific tasks as soon as possible.
Wednesday 4 August
- The National Authority for the Prevention of Torture (independent) invites "everyone who may be interested" to contact it to provide it with any useful information about the situation of the dismissed Prime Minister Hisham Al-Mashishi.
The authority said in a statement that it was not aware of the existence of a judicial or administrative decision related to placing Al-Mashishi under house arrest, preventing him from traveling or preventing his visit from third parties.
- President Qais Saeed visits the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior, and declares that any attempt to harm the Ministry or strike it from within will be met with more than the expectation of those trying to do so.
- Ennahda’s Shura Council holds an exceptional consultation session via video communication technology, to discuss the general situation in the country, after 10 days of measures taken by President Kais Saied that caused a sharp political division.
Thursday 5 August
- Former Tunisian Prime Minister Hicham Al-Mashishi submitted a statement of his gains and interests (a financial disclosure statement) to the National Anti-Corruption Authority, in his first appearance since his dismissal 11 days ago, and in light of reports that he was under house arrest.
- The Shura Council of the Ennahda Movement in Tunisia called for “launching a national dialogue to advance political and economic reforms,” ending the suspension of Parliament’s competencies, while the movement undertakes “the necessary reviews and renewal of its programs” in light of “street messages.”
- The director of news in the official TV, Imad Barboura, announces his resignation after President Kais Saied criticized the performance of the news department on the official TV.
- Tunisian associations issue a statement calling on the president to develop a plan of action with civil forces regarding the entitlements of the new phase and exit from the exceptional situation in the country. Tunisian for Economic and Social Rights, and the Association of Tunisian Women for Research on Development.
- The president ends the duties of 3 governors, they are the governor of Monastir (east) Akram Al-Sebri, the governor of Medenine (southeast) Habib Chouat, and the governor of Zaghouan (north) Saleh Matiraoui, bringing the number of those who were included in the presidential dismissals since last July 25 to 33 officials.
Friday 6 August
- The Ennahda movement denies what was reported by local media that it had signed an advertising contract last July with a company in the United States of America in exchange for $30,000 to beautify its image abroad.
- The president assigns Ali Merabet to run the Ministry of Health, instead of Mohamed Trabelsi, the Acting Minister of Social Affairs and Health in the government of Hisham Al-Mashishi.
Ennahda announces its rejection of placing the movement’s leader, Dr. Anwar Maarouf, the former minister, judges, activists and politicians under house arrest, considering that this procedure is “illegal.”
- The deputy of the "Heart of Tunisia" party, Jawhar Al-Mughairbi, is appealing the president's "exceptional" decisions before the administrative judiciary, in a step that is the second of its kind.
Saturday 7 August
The “Supreme Council for the Youth of the July 25 Movement” (independent) calls on the president to “accelerate the holding of a national referendum and early elections.” The newly established council defines itself as supportive of President Saeed and his decisions, and refuses to affiliate with any political party.
Monday 9 August
- 45 judges issued a statement expressing their "shock at the serious slippage that the executive authority has experienced in its dealings with the judiciary, by infringing on the powers of the courts and the competencies of the Supreme Judicial Council," and accusing President Qais Saeed of infringing on their freedoms, calling on him to "immediately withdraw from all arbitrary measures against judges.
The Public Prosecution prevented 12 people from traveling on suspicion of financial and administrative corruption in phosphate extraction and transportation deals.
The head of the National Commission for the Prevention of Torture, Fathi Gray, said that the commission had identified officials under house arrest, but had not obtained their names from any official body.
He added that among them are the director of the relevant departments in the Ministry of the Interior, Lazhar Longo, the former Minister of Transport, Anwar Maarouf, and the first president of the Court of Cassation in Tunisia, Tayeb Rashid.
Thursday 12 August
The judiciary announced the arrest of 14 officials suspected of being involved in a corruption case in the phosphate sector, including a former minister of state, a director of mines, a procurement director in the Ministry of Industry, and 6 directors.
Wednesday 18 August
- A presidential decree appointing Sami Al-Hishri as Director General of National Security, and Shukri Al-Riyahi as Commander (commander) of the National Guard.
Friday 20 August
- Former head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (constitutionality) Shawki Al-Tabib announces “a decision has been issued to place him under house arrest.”
- A presidential decision terminating the duties of the Secretary General of the National Anti-Corruption Authority, Anwar bin Hassan, provided that the person in charge of administrative and financial affairs in the authority assumes the temporary conduct of business.
Saturday August 21
- The arrest of Lotfi Ali, a member of parliament from the "Long Live Tunisia" bloc (10 seats out of 217), on charges of "money laundering and illicit enrichment".
Sunday 22 August
- The private Tunisian daily Al-Shorouk indicated that security units had arrested a "terrorist who was planning to carry out an operation targeting President Kais Saied" during an upcoming visit to a coastal city.
Monday 23 August
The President announced the extension of the exceptional measures to suspend the work of Parliament, and to lift the immunity of its members until further notice.
- The Ennahda Movement announces the exemption of all members of its executive office, and its re-formation “in a manner that responds to the requirements of the stage and achieves the required efficiency.”
Thursday 26 August
- The Tunisian General Labor Union calls for an end to the exceptional procedures, and confirms its refusal to return to what was before 25 July last as well.
Friday 3 September
ـ وفد أميركي يقوده السيناتور كريس مورفي يزور تونس ليومين، ويلتقي الرئيس قيس سعيد ونوابا بالبرلمان.. ومورفي يحث سعيد على العودة السريعة إلى المسار الديمقراطي.
الخميس 9 سبتمبر/أيلول
ـ وليد الحجام مستشار رئيس الجمهورية يعلن عن وجود اتجاه لتعليق العمل بالدستور وتغيير النظام السياسي.
الجمعة 10 سبتمبر/أيلول
ـ مسؤول السياسة الخارجية والأمن في الاتحاد الأوروبي جوزيب بوريل يلتقي قيس سعيد، ويعبر بعد اللقاء عن مخاوف الاتحاد إزاء الوضع في تونس.
ـ عدد من الأحزاب السياسية، بينها التيار الديمقراطي وحراك تونس الإرادة، ترفض تصريحات الحجام.
السبت 11 سبتمبر/أيلول
ـ الاتحاد العام التونسي للشغل يرفض بشكل ضمني تصريحات مستشار الرئيس، ويدعو إلى إجراء انتخابات مبكرة.
ـ الرئيس قيس سعيد يؤكد خلال جولة له بشارع بورقيبة احترامه للدستور، مشددا في الوقت نفسه على إمكانية تعديل بعض فصوله.
الاثنين 13 سبتمبر/أيلول
ـ قرار رئاسي بإعفاء المكلفةَ بمهام وزير الشباب والرياضة والإدماج المهني بالنيابة سهام العيّادي من مهامها.
ـ حركة النهضة تعلن رفضها تعليق العمل بالدستور أو تغييره، مؤكدة انفتاح حزبها على تغيير بعض فصول الدستور.
الثلاثاء 14 سبتمبر/أيلول
ـ أصدرت أحزاب "الجمهوري" و"التكتل" و"آفاق" و"أمل" و"التيار الديمقراطي" التونسية بيانا مشتركا عبرت فيه عن رفضها المطلق لكل دعوات تعليق الدستور في البلاد.
الجمعة 17 سبتمبر/أيلول
ـ اعتقال رئيس الكتلة البرلمانية لحزب ائتلاف الكرامة سيف الدين مخلوف على يد قوة أمنية أثناء وصوله إلى المحكمة العسكرية بالعاصمة للتحقيق معه فيما يعرف بقضية المطار، وحركة النهضة تندد بما وصفتها بـ"الطريقة المهينة والمخالفة للإجراءات القانونية" التي اعتقل بها مخلوف.
ـ القضاء العسكري يطلق سراح مخلوف ويحدد تاريخ يوم 27 سبتمبر/أيلول الحالي موعدا لاستجوابه.
السبت 18 سبتمبر/أيلول
ـ احتشد مئات التونسيين أمام المسرح البلدي في شارع الحبيب بورقيبة بالعاصمة، ودعا المتظاهرون إلى إعادة العمل بدستور البلاد، وتفعيل المؤسسات الدستورية وعلى رأسها البرلمان.