Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed had a draft Constitution published on Thursday June 30, which will be submitted to a referendum on July 25 and grants vast powers to the Head of State, marking a radical break with the parliamentary system in place.

The text, published in the Official Journal, confirms the expected presidentialization of the regime by stipulating that the "President of the Republic exercises executive power, assisted by a government led by a head of government" whom he appoints.

This government will not be presented to Parliament to gain confidence.

The president, according to the published draft, will also enjoy vast prerogatives: he is the supreme commander of the armed forces, defines the general policy of the State and ratifies the laws.

He can also submit legislative texts to Parliament, "which must examine them 'in priority'.

In addition to the fact that the text considerably reduces the role and power of Parliament, it also provides for the establishment of a second chamber, the "National Assembly of the Regions".

No mention of Islam as a "state religion"

The draft Constitution also contains no mention of Islam as a "state religion", as Sadok Belaïd had already announced to AFP on June 6, the jurist who headed the commission responsible for drafting this text.

This omission is aimed at combating Islamist-inspired parties such as Ennahdha, the pet peeve of President Kaïs Saïed.

The draft Constitution guarantees "individual and public rights and freedoms" and affirms that men and women are "equal in rights and duties".

It further states that the right to "peaceful assembly and demonstration are guaranteed".

The new Constitution must replace that of 2014 which had established a hybrid system source of recurring conflicts between the executive and legislative branches.

The opposition and human rights organizations accuse Kaïs Saïed of seeking to have a text tailor-made for him adopted.

After months of political deadlock, Kaïs Saïed, elected at the end of 2019, assumed full powers on July 25, 2021 by dismissing the Prime Minister and suspending the Parliament, dominated by Ennahdha, causing the young democracy, cradle of the Arab Spring, to falter. .

The referendum on the Constitution will coincide with the 1st anniversary of this coup.

With AFP

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