Tunisian President Kais Saied said on Saturday that amendments could be made to the country's current constitution, about 7 weeks after he announced exceptional measures according to which he assumed the executive authority and froze the work of Parliament, while organizations and parties called for the speedy adoption of a road map that ends these exceptional measures and brings the country back to life. natural politics.

Said added - in statements to Tunisian state television during a tour of Habib Bourguiba Street in the capital, Tunis - that the new government will be announced "as soon as possible."

Saeed continued, "I am seeking to select the people (members of the government) who are flawless, and a working session was held a while ago on selecting members of the government, and we will continue to search for people who carry the weight of the trust."


Direction to amend the political system

The Tunisian president accused (unnamed) parties or persons of being "talking about a departure from legitimacy and they do not understand the meaning of the law. They talk about a coup and a departure from the articles of the constitution (...) on the contrary, we respected it and we respected all values."

He added, "Unfortunately, those with whom the pledge was made (he did not name) reneged on the pledges. I will never break the pledge. I will continue on the same principles at all costs."

He concluded, "We respect the constitution and we will continue to respect constitutional legitimacy."

Walid al-Hajam, advisor to President Qais Saeed, told Reuters last Thursday that it was necessary to suspend the constitution, and that there was a tendency to amend the political system.

On July 25, Saied decided to freeze Parliament - headed by Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Ennahda party - for a period of 30 days, lift the immunity of deputies, and dismiss Prime Minister Hisham Al-Mashishi, provided that he assumes the executive authority, with the help of a government whose head is appointed, and then issued Orders to dismiss officials and appoint others.

The majority of Tunisian parties rejected Said’s decisions, which were extended on August 24 indefinitely, and some considered them a “coup against the constitution”, while other parties supported them and saw them as a “correction of the course”, in light of the political, economic and health crises (the Corona pandemic). .

Tunisian organizations are pressing for a speedy presentation of a road map that includes clear plans to save the country, while ensuring respect for the constitution and human rights.


Call for early elections

In this context, the Secretary-General of the Tunisian General Labor Union, Noureddine Taboubi, called - yesterday, Saturday - to hold early legislative elections, which will result in a new parliament that will discuss the constitution and change the political system.

Taboubi called - during a union meeting - to expedite the formation of the government, and to indicate which path the Tunisian president will take.

Apparently, Taboubi's statements came as an implicit response to the statements of the advisor to the President of the Republic, Walid Al-Hajam, who confirmed the existence of a tendency to suspend the work of the constitution and change the political system in the country through a referendum.

In response to al-Hajam's statements, the opposition left-wing Labor Party considered that "the trend towards changing the country's political system by an individual decision is an advanced step in the path of the coup."

The party indicated, in a statement, that "the threat to suspend the constitution, and the formation of a committee to draft a new constitution, by an individual, miserable and miserable decision, opens the door to complete monopolization of power and circumventing the aspirations and gains of Tunisians."

The Workers' Party called on "progressive and democratic forces to confront any local, regional and international arrangements aimed at returning, either to what preceded the declaration of exceptional measures, or to the system before the Tunisian revolution."


Back to individual rule

In the same context, the Ennahda movement - in a statement - expressed its rejection of this path, and said that "this path will lead to a loss of legitimacy, a return to individual rule, and a retreat from democratic gains and guarantees of freedoms and human rights."

The Ennahda movement also called for accelerating the formation of a legitimate government that would gain the confidence of Parliament, stressing the "importance of a comprehensive national dialogue to reform the situation and complete the building of constitutional institutions from within the constitution."

For its part, the Ettakatol party affirmed in a statement its "absolute rejection of individual rule and President Said's intention to suspend the constitution and establish a presidential system, according to what his advisor said."

The bloc called on the Tunisian presidency to "clarify its official position while expressing its vision and plan to get out of the stifling political and economic crisis, respect the constitution and work within its framework."

He called on "the forces committed to the success of the democratic path and to preserving the gains of the revolution, to mobilize to return to the democratic path and to arbitrate the people in the future of the nation."


Reject foreign interference

On Friday, Saeed said that his country would not accept any foreign intervention, as he faced increasing pressure from Western governments to restore constitutional order after seizing power in July.

He stated in a statement that "the sovereignty of the Tunisian state and the choices of its people were not originally discussed... and it will not be the subject of negotiations with any party."

He stressed that the situation required taking exceptional measures within the framework of the constitution to correct the situation, save the state and respond to a broad popular will, "without intending to revert to the gains that have been made."

And he considered that "Tunisia is a sovereign country, and sovereignty is in it for the people, and there is no room for interference in its choices that stem from the popular will," and said that his country "does not accept being in the seat of a student who receives lessons and then waits for the number that will be assigned to him, or the observation which will be recorded in its preparation card,” according to a statement by the Tunisian Presidency.

This statement came after the European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, who visited Tunisia on Friday, said that he conveyed to Saied European concerns about preserving the country's democratic gains.

"I conveyed to the President (Saied) European concerns regarding preserving the gains of democracy in Tunisia, which is the only way to ensure the country's stability and prosperity," Borrell said after meeting with the Tunisian president, ministers and representatives of political parties and organizations.

He continued, "The free exercise of legislative power and the resumption of parliamentary activity are part of these gains and must be respected."

G7 ambassadors this week also urged the president to quickly appoint a new head of government, and to return to the constitutional system in which parliament plays a key role.