It seems that Tunisia is now threatened with drowning in the unknown as a result of the double danger of authoritarianism and financial bankruptcy, after its current president upset the constitutional balance by concentrating most of the power in his hands in the name of the “people’s revolution” that he wants to revive.

This is what was summed up by French "Le Monde" correspondent Frederic Robin, a lengthy editorial he wrote for the newspaper about the recent actions of President Kais Saied, the "mystery man" as some describe it, who, since his "coup" two months ago, has dragged Tunisia into the perilous paths of individual power. , violating the rules of political action and escaping from the agreed patterns and systems, according to the writer.

The article explained that Saeed - who has placed all executive and legislative powers in his hands since July 25 to save the nation from an "imminent danger" - signed on September 22 a presidential decree that centralizes most of the constitutional powers in his hand, waiting for the "political reform" that he promised to submit to a general referendum. .

The writer justified the reason for the interest in the "Said phenomenon" by the fact that the bet is in fact on the future of the Tunisian democratic transition, a model that faces danger after being celebrated as a success in the Arab world.

He added that Tunisian liberals no longer hide their concern about Said's authoritarian drift in the name of "the people", which is becoming increasingly clear every day.


Puzzle

The writer went on to enumerate many justifications for describing Saeed as a "enigma", saying that all his actions confirm that this description applies to him.

Isn't he, for example, that democrat who hates political parties, isn't he that constitutional expert who sent a tank to close the door of the parliament building after he suspended his work, then isn't he the heir of the "Tunisian Spring" who flirts with Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the godfathers of the Arab counter-revolution?

Commenting on this, the writer says that there are many "mysteries" and apparent paradoxes that impose themselves in this context, which makes one puzzled to find an appropriate adjective to give it to Said's approach. Is what Tunisia is witnessing a new era of democracy in the south?

Or a populist revolution?

Or a return to personalizing power and authority?

Or the beginning of the emergence of a loyal political?

Or is it pressure for illiberal sovereignty?

Or is it a combination of all of this?

In an attempt to identify the inspiration for this president in his recent decisions, the article referred to Saeed's visit from 9 to 11 last April to Egypt, during which President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received him warmly.

He asked: Did Sisi, who overthrew the late President Mohamed Morsi in the July 2013 coup, give him advice and advice?

He then points out that what is important is that Saeed returned from Cairo armed with a new confidence, which made one of the former ministers comment on that visit as a milestone, saying, "Saeed's visit to Cairo has its precedent and its aftermath."

Regarding the position of the international community on what is happening in Tunisia, the writer referred to the concern expressed by Western countries, especially the Americans, who expressed their discontent with this constitutional deviation from the path, which weakens the Tunisian “democratic model.”

As for the regional axis formed by Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, which is hostile to the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, it does not hide its satisfaction with the overthrow of Ennahda, while Turkey remained silent, and Algeria raised its level of vigilance for fear that its neighbor would become a hotbed of “foreign interference” at a time when Iran, Russia and China were watching closely. What is going on in this country.

Among the causes of internal and international concern about what is going on, according to the author, is Saeed's refusal to discuss any discussion with political parties and civil society, and his continued strengthening of his personal powers.

As for the president's response to his critics, the author summarized him in causing more polarization by demonizing an enemy at home, as he continued in recent weeks to publish his offensive statements against what he called "the plots of traitors and thieves, and starvation of people."