Political, trade union, and civil forces opposed to Tunisian President Kais Saied escalated their protests against the political path led by the president, on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the Tunisian revolution.

Why did Tunisia reach this crisis stage?

While the opposition political forces demanded Said's departure, the Tunisian Labor Union called for what it called a third option, to get the country out of its current political and economic crisis.

The demonstrations, in which civil and trade union forces also participated, demanded the departure of the president, and denounced what they called his monopoly on power, his threat to rights and freedoms, and his violation of the independence of the judiciary, according to their description.

The Salvation Front, the Coordination of Social Democratic Parties, and the Free Constitutional Party also participated in the demonstrations.

Calls for general mobilization in order to overthrow President Kais Saied, whom the demonstrators held responsible for the severe economic and living crisis in Tunisia.

Demand to leave and resign

Concerning the messages of these demonstrations, the writer and political analyst Muhammad Dhouib saw - in his interview with the "Beyond the News" program (14/1/2023) - that today's demonstrations have proven that all the political forces of the Tunisian people have become unified in their position on Qais Said's coup, and they are all calling on him to leave and resign. Or a national dialogue to find a solution to the Tunisian crisis.

He also pointed out that the demonstrations proved that the state had become concerned about the decisions of the political authority of Said. By preventing the demonstration of the Salvation Front, it held the security services a responsibility that they did not have, as the Tunisian people imposed their right to demonstrate, stressing that the demonstrations made the balance of power in Tunisia tilt in favor of the democratic movement and against Said. Which was stripped of any constitutional, popular and political legitimacy, according to him.

As for the reasons for Tunisia reaching this crisis, the leader of the National Salvation Front, Abd al-Latif al-Makki, said that it is not possible to talk about a unified opposition in Tunisia, and it is not possible to talk about signs of resolving the Tunisian crisis in light of the economic and social failure, mainly due to "the past decade that was heavy on Tunisians.

He added that Tunisia was also affected by Russia's war on Ukraine and the crisis that the world experienced during the Corona period, and then the government's failure to deal with some files related to corruption issues, considering that the political ambiguity in Tunisia does not herald any change in the near future.

Battle to save Tunisia

As for the Tunisian General Labor Union, which did not participate in Saturday's demonstrations, its Secretary-General Noureddine Taboubi called for preparing for what he called a national battle to save Tunisia, and announced his intention to implement sectoral union movements with social demands.

The union also affirmed its adherence to freedoms and its opposition to any attempt to suppress them.

During a trade union meeting, Al-Taboubi affirmed the Labor Union's defense of freedoms, its opposition to repression, and its adherence to the right of everyone to demonstrate in the street, indicating that what he called the populist tide is unable to advance in Tunisia, and a third option must be found.

Al-Taboubi added that civil society and national organizations tell the ruler not to tamper with the country, as he put it.

Tunisian President Kais Saied had anticipated the demonstrations today, Saturday, by asserting that the country was at war with corruption, and with those he described as traitors and agents.

During his meeting with members of the National Committee for Penal Reconciliation, Said called for the return of the looted funds to the people and for the accountability of all those who have sinned against Tunisians, as he put it.