Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed denounced, on Tuesday March 29, the "illegal" meetings of a body of Parliament, suspended since its coup in July 2021, which according to him aim to sow "disorder" in the country shaken by a deep political crisis.

"What has been called 'virtual meeting' is illegal because the Assembly (of people's representatives) is frozen as well as its office," Kais Saied told a meeting of the National Security Council, according to a recording. video posted early Tuesday on the Presidency's Facebook page.

After months of political blockage, Kaïs Saïed, elected at the end of 2019, assumed full powers on July 25, 2021 by dismissing the Prime Minister and suspending Parliament.

Several meetings organized this week

The Office of the Assembly of People's Representatives, a body that brings together the presidency of parliament and representatives of the parties sitting there, organized an online meeting on Monday.

He also decided to hold a plenary session on Wednesday to examine the cancellation of the "exceptional measures" decided by President Saïed to govern by decree.

>> To read also: In Tunisia, the Superior Council of the Judiciary victim of a coup

The office, chaired by the leader of the Islamist-inspired Ennahda party, Rached Ghannouchi, did not specify whether this plenary would take place online or in its headquarters, closed since the president's coup.

It also decided to hold another plenary session on Saturday to examine the "dangerous" financial and socio-economic situation of the country.

"Attempts for a coup", according to Kaïs Saïed 

For President Saïed, these meetings are only "desperate attempts which have no value (...), attempts for a coup d'etat".

He warned "those who want disorder in the state and its institutions or who want to kill each other", warning them that "there are forces and institutions that will fight them".

The President also once again said ironically to MPs that they could meet "in a space shuttle". 

The powerful UGTT trade union center also rejected on Tuesday the meetings planned by the suspended parliament, which aim, according to a statement by its spokesman Sami Tahri, to "bring the country into conflict and political division".

With AFP

The summary of the

France 24 week invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 app

google-play-badge_FR