Tunisian judges will start a general strike in all Tunisian courts starting today, Monday, for a period of one week, subject to renewal, in protest of President Kais Saied's decision to dismiss 57 judges, at a time when various political forces called for an inclusive national dialogue and to drop the draft referendum on a new constitution.

In an emergency session of the National Council of the Association of Judges, the judges approved a series of moves, including not replacing the dismissed judges, in addition to not running for membership in the electoral subsidiary bodies, and calling on judges to engage in open sit-ins in all the headquarters of the judicial structures.

All judicial union structures, including a syndicate, an association, young judges, and administrative judges, participated in the decision to strike, noting that the decision to strike excluded burial permissions and severe terrorism cases.

The head of the association, Anas Al-Hammadi, said that whoever thinks he is able to monopolize the executive and judicial authority and insult the judges is most important, and that they will not leave the executive authority to play on internal divisions.

For its part, the National Authority for the Defense of Liberties and Democracy in Tunisia called on lawyers and court employees to make the judges' strike a success.

She supports the judges in their pivotal battle for independence.

Tunisian political parties, organizations and civil bodies have also expressed their rejection and condemnation of the impeachment decisions, accusing President Said of trying to put his hand on the judiciary and use it politically.


All-encompassing dialogue

In a related context, the head of the National Salvation Front, Ahmed Najib Chebbi, called for the formation of a national salvation government that would emerge from an inclusive national dialogue, as part of moves aimed at defending democracy in the face of one-man rule.

Chebbi stressed - during a meeting in the state of Gafsa - that the goal is to drop the referendum, and saw it as blackmailing the Tunisian will and based on tearing up the first constitution drafted by elected representatives.

Meanwhile, the head of the Ennahda movement, Rached Ghannouchi, warned of an unprecedented state of tyranny that could lead the country to bankruptcy or to civil war, if the situation continues as it is.

Ghannouchi stressed - during a press conference - that the movement will continue with its partners to "overthrow the coup" and the resulting decrees that represented a "coup against the constitution," as he put it.

He stressed that the country needs dialogue between the various political parties, with or without the participation of Qais Saeed.


This coincided with the continuation of the national dialogue sessions called by President Qais Saeed, and its first session began last Saturday, in preparation for organizing a referendum on a new constitution on July 25, with the aim of ending the political crisis in the country.

The first dialogue session will be attended by representatives of non-governmental organizations and 4 parties (the People's Movement, the Popular Current, Tunisia Al Emam, and the National Struggle Movement).

Meanwhile, the Tunisian General Labor Union (the largest Tunisian labor union) refused to participate in the dialogue in its current form, and other parties boycotted it, including Al-Massar, Afaq Tounes, Ennahda, Qalb Tounes, the Democratic Current, and the United National Democratic Party.

Since July 25, 2021, Tunisia has been experiencing a severe political crisis, as Saied imposed exceptional measures, including dismissing the government and appointing others, dissolving Parliament and the Judicial Council, and issuing legislation by presidential decrees.

Tunisian forces say that these measures represent a "coup against the constitution" and aim to gather executive, legislative and judicial powers in the hands of the president.

Other forces believe that these measures are aimed at "correcting the course of the 2011 revolution," which overthrew President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali at the time.

In addition to the political crisis, Tunisia is experiencing serious economic difficulties, most notably the accelerating inflation and high unemployment.

The heavily indebted country is trying to obtain a new loan from the International Monetary Fund of at least $4 billion.