Mechichi appears for the first time since his dismissal.. The Labor Union calls for early elections in Tunisia and Ennahda criticizes the president's ignoring the government vacuum

The Tunisian Confederation of Labor (Central Trade Union) called for the launch of a national dialogue and the formation of a mini-government, while the Ennahda movement criticized what it considered the Tunisian presidency's ignoring the government vacuum.

Meanwhile, the dismissed prime minister, Hisham al-Mashishi, appeared today for the first time.

The Secretary-General of the Tunisian Labor Confederation, Noureddine Taboubi, warned of the dangers of a government vacuum and disruption of government institutions in the country, stressing keenness on the approach of dialogue with all parties.

On July 25, Tunisian President Kais Saied took exceptional measures to freeze Parliament for a period of thirty days, relieve Al-Mashichi of his duties and assume executive power, and made appointments to senior state officials.

In a statement yesterday evening, the Union called for “accelerating the appointment of the prime minister of a mini and harmonious rescue government that will have specific urgent and exceptional tasks and meet the social benefits of providing employment and fighting poverty and marginalization, and ably confronting the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The union, which renewed its support for Said's decisions, warned that "any delay in this will deepen the vacuum and make it difficult to get out of the social and economic crisis" facing Tunisia.

In this regard, the Tunisian President's advisor announced today that "no final decision has been taken regarding the head of the new government, but steps are being taken in this direction."

Action Plan

For their part, civil organizations called in an official statement on the Tunisian president to set an action plan according to a clear and defined schedule in time and in a participatory manner with civil forces regarding the benefits of the new phase.

The statement stated that the organizations denounce the interference of foreign capitals in Tunisian affairs and the sovereignty of the state, especially statements aimed at protecting a corrupt, criminal and popularly pronounced regime.

The statement was signed by the National Syndicate of Journalists, the Association of Tunisian Judges, the Tunisian Association of Young Lawyers and other organizations.

During the past few days, Saeed launched a campaign of dismissals that targeted ministers, ambassadors and senior government officials, as well as the director of state television.

He also appointed new ministers in the interior, economy and communication technologies.

Said implicitly accused the dismissed Minister of Communication Technologies of harnessing information from the ministry for the benefit of political parties and for electoral ends.

And on Monday, Said appointed Seham Boughediri, an employee specialized in tax collection, as Minister of Economy, and an expert in information safety, Nizar Bennaji, to head the Ministry of Communication Technologies.

On Tuesday, he dismissed the Tunisian ambassador in Washington and the governor of Sfax (centre) without providing an explanation for his decision.

Today, a spokesman for the judicial authorities confirmed that the Public Prosecution had ordered the detention of the deputy from Qalb Tounes, Al-Jadidi Al-Soubi, for a period of 24 hours, subject to renewal, on the background of accusations of defamation against the governor of Zaghouan (center).

Manifesto of the Renaissance

For its part, the Shura Council of the Ennahda Movement in Tunisia called for the launch of a national dialogue to move forward with political and economic reforms, and to end the suspension of the parliament's competencies, with the movement carrying out the necessary reviews and renewing its programs.

This came in a statement by the movement’s council (which has the largest parliamentary bloc), after an extraordinary consultation session, which started on Wednesday, to discuss the general situation in the country, 11 days after Saeed’s decisions.

In a 10-point statement, the council (the movement's highest body) affirmed Ennahda's keenness on the approach of dialogue with all national parties, particularly the President of the Republic, to overcome the complex crisis, achieve social peace and accomplish the necessary reforms.

The Council said that it was preoccupied with the government vacuum that has persisted for more than ten days, and the failure of the President of the Republic to assign the person invited to form a government capable of addressing the people's health, economic, social and development priorities.

first appearance

Meanwhile, Al-Jazeera correspondent reported that the dismissed Tunisian Prime Minister Hisham Al-Mashishi appeared today for the first time since his dismissal, while submitting financial disclosure papers.

Today, the National Anti-Corruption Authority in Tunisia published pictures of Mechichi announcing his properties, which represents his first appearance after 11 days of his dismissal.

After his dismissal, Al-Mashishi disappeared from view, amid talk of his being placed under house arrest, being attacked in the presidential palace, and detained for some time.

American concern

In a related context, Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Menendez and prominent member of the Senate Jim Risch said today that they are "deeply concerned" by the increasing tension and unrest in Tunisia.

"President (Kais) Said must recommit to the democratic principles that support US-Tunisian relations, and the army must commit to its role within the framework of a constitutional democracy," they added in a joint statement via e-mail.

Tunisia is awaiting Said's announcement of the road map that he intends to implement and assign a new prime minister.

In addition to the political crisis, Tunisia is facing a deteriorating health situation with the exacerbation of the Covid-19 epidemic, which has killed more than 20,000 people.

The country has also faced a severe economic crisis for years, deepened by political quarrels and disagreements between Saeed and the parties.

Saied, who was elected in 2019 with more than 70% of the vote, is widely popular and his exceptional decisions have been welcomed by many Tunisians.