More than a thousand demonstrators, including a majority of supporters of the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, gathered in central Tunis on Sunday to protest again against the policies of President Kais Saied who recently dissolved parliament.
"Get out", "The people want to dismiss the president", "Down with the coup", "Constitution, work and dignity", in particular chanted the protesters, gathered at the call of the Ennahdha party and the movement "Citizens against the coup d'etat," noted AFP journalists.
The demonstrators, including several left-wing figures, denounced the dissolution of Parliament decided on March 30 by Kais Saied, believing that “there is no democracy without legislative power”.
The Ministry of the Interior had deployed a massive police force with great reinforcement of metal barriers and riot units, to control this demonstration.
Opponents of Mr. Saied, who have organized several demonstrations in recent months to denounce his policy, describe his seizure of all powers since July 25 as a "coup d'etat".
Socio-economic crisis
After months of political deadlock, President Saied, elected at the end of 2019, assumed full powers on that date, dismissing the Prime Minister and suspending the Parliament dominated by the Islamist-inspired party Ennahdha, his pet peeve.
Despite the appointment of a government last fall, the president rules the country through decree laws and extended for months the suspension of parliament, which he ended up dissolving on March 30.
In February, he also abolished the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM), which he replaced by a provisional body whose members he chose, a measure described as a new authoritarian drift by his detractors and which has raised concerns for the independence of justice.
Sunday's protest came amid heightened political tensions after the opening of a judicial inquiry into MPs who defied the suspension of parliament just before its dissolution, by holding an online plenary session.
Besides the political deadlock, Tunisia is struggling with a deep socio-economic crisis and is in talks with the International Monetary Fund to secure a new loan.
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