clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Tunisia sues opposition for forcing ministers out of parliament

June 15, 2021 at 2:00 pm

Abir Moussi, Tunisian leader of the Free Destourian Party (PDL), delivers a speech during a rally in the coastal city of Sfax, on March 20, 2021 [ANIS MILI/AFP via Getty Images]

The Tunisian government has decided to sue Abir Moussi, head of the Free Destourian Party, and members of her parliamentary bloc after they forced a number of ministers out of the parliament building.

A statement issued by the Presidency of the Government, on Monday, said: “Following the acts of deputy Abir Moussi, head of the Free Destourian Party, that took place during the plenary session of Monday, 14 June 2021, including the attacks and threats targeting Mrs. Olfa Ben Auda, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Mr. Mohamed Trabelsi, Minister Social Affairs, while they were attempting to answer  a number of questions at the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, the Presidency of the Government affirms its rejection of these practices that violate the democratic system, affect the state and the work mechanisms of its institutions, and disrupt the normal functioning of public facilities.”

READ: Tunisia MP sits in parliament in bulletproof vest, helmet

The Presidency of the Government confirmed in the statement that it had decided to “resort to the court and file a lawsuit against MP Moussi and the rest of the Free Destourian deputies for the violations they committed against the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Minister of Social Affairs.

Moussi and the deputies of the Free Destourian bloc used loudspeakers to force the government members out of the plenary session, chanting the slogan “Dégage” (leave).