Tunisian opposition forces demanded the resignation of President Kais Saied and the holding of early presidential elections, after recording a low turnout in the legislative run-off.

In a press conference on Sunday evening, shortly after the High Elections Authority announced that a turnout had been recorded at around 11%, the head of the opposition National Salvation Front, Ahmed Najib al-Shabi, called for the departure of President Said and the organization of early presidential elections, which would be a first step for a complete reform path.

Chebbi indicated that 90% of Tunisians turned their backs on the electoral process, which he described as a complete failure for Said, saying that the front would not recognize this process, which took place in light of political division and an economic and living crisis.

The head of the Salvation Front urged the political and civil forces to unite in order to "bring about the desired change represented in the departure of the president and the holding of early elections," and appealed to 3 organizations that are currently working on formulating an initiative to get out of the crisis, which is the Tunisian General Labor Union (the largest labor union in the country). and the Bar Association and the Human Rights League, in order to form a new political leadership.

The Salvation Front includes organizations and parties, including the Ennahda movement, and it is one of the 3 main forces that oppose the policies of President Qais Saeed, but they are different among them.

In turn, the Ennahda movement in Tunisia called for the resignation of the Tunisian president, and to allow early presidential elections to be held.

The movement said - in a statement - that "Qais Said's parliament only expresses the minority of the minority and does not have the right to exercise legislative power in the name of the people."

The head of the Elections Commission, Farouk Bouaskar, announced that the final polling rate in the run-off for the legislative elections amounted to 11.4%, and he acknowledged the low participation rate, calling for a substantive discussion on that.


"stop the coup"

For its part, 5 other Tunisian opposition parties - namely: the Democratic Current, Qutb, Republican, Workers, and Ettakatol - called for an immediate halt to what they called the "coup."

The five parties said, in a joint statement, that the parliament emanating from what they described as the farce of the new elections lacks legitimacy, and is one of the titles of the crisis.

She added that a sham parliament without legislative or actual oversight powers would be nothing but decoration without influence on public policies.

These parties called on all Tunisian democratic and progressive forces to continue joint work to get out of the crisis.

Tunisia has been witnessing a deep political crisis since the Tunisian president announced, on July 25, 2021, the exceptional measures that allow him to acquire most of the powers.

Under these exceptional powers, Saeed dissolved the government and parliament, and transformed the parliamentary system into a presidential one. He also issued a new constitution last summer that gives the head of state wide powers in exchange for a parliament with almost non-existent powers.

The opposition accuses President Qais Saied of turning against the revolution and the 2014 constitution, but Saied justifies the exceptional measures and his gathering of most powers by saving the state from collapse as a result of political conflicts and establishing a reform path.