Tunisian anger is coming.. Will the rug of legitimacy be pulled from Qais Saeed?

The Bar Association announced the organization of what it called a national day of rage next Thursday, in rejection of the new finance law and burdening Tunisians with excessive tax burdens, as it put it. So what is happening in Tunisia?

In a new trade union escalation, the Tunisian Labor Union threatened that it would not stand idly by in the face of the crisis in the country, while Tunisian President Kais Saied announced the extension of the state of emergency and accused the opposition of fabricating crises and raising prices.

In this regard, the leader of the National Salvation Front, Jawhar bin Mubarak - in his interview with the "Beyond the News" program (31/12/2022) - saw that voices opposing President Saeed's policies are rising in the country, indicating that there are voices rooted in their resistance to "the coup." Demands Saeed's departure or his dismissal and dismissal, and setting a date for early presidential elections.

He justified this conviction that those who adopt this trend have reached the conviction that the Tunisians’ boycott of the recent elections stripped Saeed of his legitimacy, and this is what makes Tunisia in dire need of a renewal of legitimacy and confidence, considering that it is the right of Tunisians to decide the affairs of their country between Saeed’s path, which he described as arbitrary and absurd. In exchange for choosing the path of completing the democratic process in the country.

Happy legitimacy

On the other hand, lawyer and law researcher Caesar Sayyah considered that the Tunisian popular will is much greater than the intentions of the opposition, and that the trade union escalation taking place in Tunisia does not necessarily mean a return to before July 25, and he also stressed that the opposition does not represent an official ruling in place of President Said. Who was appointed by the people in a democratic manner and there is no room for questioning his legitimacy.

Regarding the justifications for the protest, the Bar Association also justified its protest with what it called the dangerous repercussions for the people, and burdening them with excessive tax burdens that limit the purchasing power of citizens.

In a further step in the direction of resisting the President's policies, the Commission revealed that it had authorized the Dean of Lawyers to coordinate with organizations and components of civil society with the aim of launching a national initiative to save the country, and called on the President to deal positively with what the initiative will stipulate.

The Tunisian Labor Union - through its spokesman, Sami Al-Tahri - continued its threat to confront the policies of President Kais Saied, and stressed that it would not remain idle towards the social crisis in Tunisia.

Al-Tahri also added that the Tunisian Labor Union will start protest movements, the date of which will be set at a meeting of its administrative body next January, indicating that the union intends to launch an initiative with civil society organizations, but this initiative is still in the stage of consultations.

A spokesman for the Tunisian Labor Union confirmed that the union does not intend to bypass the President of the Republic, and will present his initiative to him, although he is unlikely to accept the initiative and engage in dialogue with civil organizations.

Is the opposition the reason?

For his part, Tunisian President Kais Saied said - during a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Justice and Interior - that the economic and social challenge is one of the most important challenges facing Tunisians.

However, Saeed hinted at holding the opposition responsible for the economic situation in the country when he said that the fabrication of crises, the loss of some basic materials, the high prices, and attempts that have become known to all cannot continue, as he put it.

Regarding solutions to the existing crises, Saeed said that the absence of a fair judiciary makes it impossible to achieve any of the goals of the Tunisian people, and that the law must be applied to everyone equally, according to him.

Saeed had extended the state of emergency in the country until January 30, according to a presidential decree issued in the Official Gazette.

It is noteworthy that the state of emergency has been extended periodically since it was reinstated following the bombing that targeted a presidential security bus in the center of the capital in November 2015.

The state of emergency gives the authorities wide exceptional powers, such as banning the curfew of individuals and vehicles, and preventing labor strikes without prior permission from the judiciary.