Tunis: Tunisian President Kais Saied announced Sunday the suspension of Parliament and dismissal of Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi following the day of protest against the ruling party, which condemned the move as a “coup d’etat”.
The previous week, thousands of Tunisians had lined up in several cities that protested the Ennahdha Party inspired by Islam, criticizing what they said was the failure of the government in the North African country and a surge in crippling Coronavirus.
After Saied announced the suspension of parliament after an emergency meeting in his palace, the sound of the horn of the car and fireworks filled the streets.
In Tunis, hundreds opposed the Coronavirus curfew to gather on the streets of the capital.
“Finally some good decisions!” Maher, celebrating in the northwest of the city, told AFP.
Thirty Something Nahla, pointed out Tunisian flag, happy.
“This is a brave decision – Saied is not blocked by Tunisia,” he told AFP.
“This is the president we love!” Because Saied was chosen as President in 2019, he had been locked in a fight with Mechichi and Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, competition that had blocked the appointment of the minister and resources flowing from handling many economic and social issues Tunisia.
“We navigate the most subtle moments in Tunisian history,” said Saied Sunday.
He said the Constitution did not allow the dissolution of parliament, but it indeed allowed him to suspend him, quoting Article 80 which enabled it if “the danger would occur”.
At the next Facebook post, it clarifies that the suspension will be for 30 days.
“I have made decisions needed to save Tunisia, state and Tunisians,” he added.
“What Kais Saied did was a coup against the revolution and against the constitution, and members of Ennahdha and Tunisians would defend the revolution,” the party against statements on Facebook.
The Premier office did not respond to his own life on Sunday night.
Saii said he would take over the executive power “with the help” of the government, the new head would be appointed by the President himself.
He also said that parliamentary immunity would be appointed for the deputies.
A senior Ennahdha official, talked to AFP with anonymous requirements, said protests and subsequent celebrations were arranged by Saied.
“We are also able to manage large demonstrations to show the amount of Tunisia who oppose this decision,” they said.
Earlier Sunday in Tunis, hundreds of Ronti in front of the parliament, shouted the slogan against Ennahdha and Premier Mechichi.
Demonstrations were also reported in the cities of Gafsa, Kairouan, Monastir, Sousse and Tozeur.
Some protesters were arrested and a journalist was injured when people threw stones and police opened fire on tear gas cylinders, said an AFP reporter.
“People want the dissolution of Parliament,” The Crowd Chanted.
After the announcement of Saiied, Tunis Farhat, 49 years old in Gafsa, told AFP that the President had understood what people wanted.
“He has shown himself as a true statesman,” he said.
“Our patience has reached its limit, there is no room for losers.
That’s all, the game is over!” The 24-year-old Ibrahim said, echoed the old slogan from a large demonstration that overthrew the Dictatorial regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.
But a forties and a man witnessed without enthusiasm.
“These fools celebrate the birth of a new dictator,” he said.
Although a decade passed since the 2011 Revolution, Tunisia remained vulnerable to political chaos that had accelerated efforts to revive public services that collapsed.
The country’s rural political class cannot form a lasting and effective government.
Tunisia has recently been filled with Covid-19 cases, including more than 18,000 deaths.
Last week, Mechichi fired his health minister on handling pandemic when the cases skyrocketed.