Tunisian President Kais Saied denied that he had suspended the constitution, while the Ennahda movement accused him of inability to solve the country's problems and called for early elections.

During his Friday meeting with Interior Minister Tawfiq Sharaf El-Din, Saeed said that the state is run according to the law.

He rejected the accusations of his opponents of suspending the constitution following the decisions he announced last September, saying that exceptional measures were taken as stipulated in the constitution.

The Tunisian president also said that other issues will be raised against those he described as accomplices with abroad to strike their homeland, accusing his opponents of fabricating crisis after crisis.

Commenting on the protests of the unemployed following the president's announcement that he will not activate a law passed by parliament, pending its work on the employment of university graduates who have been unemployed, Saeed considered that some people are inflaming the situation through laws that are considered as "referral and legalization of illusions."

Regarding the situation of freedoms in the country, the Tunisian president denied the accusations against him of targeting his opponents, and said that no one was arrested because of his political affiliation, stressing that rights will not be violated and no one will be turned back.

During his meeting with the Minister of Interior, Saeed asked the judges to contribute to purifying the country and purifying the judiciary, as he put it.

Saeed had announced last July 25 exceptional measures, including suspending parliament and dissolving the government, according to what he said was an activation of Article 80 of the Constitution, and on September 22 he announced other measures, including Decree 117, allowing him to seize all powers, and his opponents considered them an effective suspension of the constitution. and in consecration of what they describe as a "coup".

Al-Nahda considered that Said was incapable of managing the country’s affairs and had reneged on his promises (French)

Early elections

Meanwhile, the Ennahda movement called Friday for premature general elections and a serious and calm national dialogue on a number of major files, including the electoral law and the Constitutional Court.

The movement (53 seats in the suspended parliament out of 217 seats) said - in a statement - after the meeting of its executive office that the President of the Republic, Qais Saeed, clearly demonstrated his inability to provide solutions to the country's issues despite his gathering all the authorities, and his perseverance in letters of division, accusation and threat.

She added that the president is incapable of managing the country's affairs and has reneged on his promises, noting that the bulk of the elite and a large section of the people see his vague choices and improvised policies as a danger to the state and society.

Ennahda demanded respect for the constitution instead of suspending it, and the restoration of the legislative authority (Parliament) to its full legislative and oversight role.

The movement also called for the establishment of a fully legitimate government with economic and social priorities that advance urgent reforms and cooperate with social partners.

Tunisian security forces stationed near the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior after the incident (Reuters)

Cold steel

On the other hand, Tunisian security forces opened fire on Friday at a person carrying a bladed weapon near the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior in the center of the capital.

The Ministry of Interior said in a statement that the armed person tried to attack a security member before shooting him and taking him to hospital for treatment.

She added that a judicial investigation had been opened into the incident, noting that the attacker was a 31-year-old "takfiri".