A new judicial body for Tunisia.

The members of the "temporary" judicial oversight body were sworn in on Monday, March 7, to replace the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM) whose dissolution by President Kaïs Saïed sparked a wave of criticism in Tunisia and abroad. 'foreigner.

"This is a historic moment", marking "the real independence of the judiciary", affirmed Kaïs Saïed during the ceremony at the presidential palace before the members of the new "Temporary Superior Council of the Judiciary" which he himself has named.

After suspending the elected parliament and dismissing the government in July, President Kaïs Saïed dissolved the CSM on February 5, an independent body created in 2016 to appoint judges.

Kaïs Saïed, a virulent critic of some of the judges whom he accuses of corruption, believes that the CSM notably slowed down investigations into the assassinations in 2013 of two left-wing activists, Chokri Belaïd and Mohamed Brahmi.

He also accuses the CSM of being manipulated by the Islamist-inspired party Ennahda.

Power of revocation

The presidential decree establishing the new council gives the head of state the power to dismiss "any judge who fails in his professional duties".

It prohibits judges from striking or "holding any organized collective action which could disrupt or delay the normal functioning of the courts".

The dissolution of the former CSM, seen as a new drift and a democratic setback in the cradle of the Arab Spring, has been strongly criticized by local and international organizations.

Several demonstrations were organized in Tunisia to protest against this measure.

"Since July, President Saïed has dismantled practically all the organs of control of his power. The CSM was the last bastion of judicial impartiality", underlined Amnesty International.

The CSM was made up of 45 magistrates, two thirds of whom were elected by Parliament and who themselves appointed the remaining third.

With AFP

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