Tunisia’s Ennahda calls for lifting Parliament freeze, appointing new PM

The Tunisian Ennahda movement demanded the lifting of Parliament freeze, the appointment of a prime minister, ending the siege on the government headquarters in the capital, and ensuring a speedy return to work in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

In a statement issued after a meeting of its executive office yesterday, the movement highlighted “the necessary and immediate need to assign a government of national competencies, lift the siege on the headquarters of the government in the Kasbah, and refrain from obstructing the work of state institutions.”

The statement added that the continued failure to assign a prime minister and end the siege of its headquarters “disrupt the normal functioning of the state, which results in delays in fulfilling the interests of citizens.”

The statement called on President Kais Saied “to lift the freeze on the Tunisian Parliament, quickly return to working in accordance with the Constitution, and to put an end to this state of grave breach that poses a great threat to the continuation of our democratic path, a violation of rights and freedoms, and an infringement on the most basic principles of the republic and the separation of powers.”

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The statement reminded Saied that “political crises can only be resolved through dialogue,” noting that “the national responsibility lies in preserving the unity of Tunisians and their civil peace, in addition to resuming the democratic path,  protecting the country’s higher interests, and refraining from dragging it into regional and international conflicts that deviate from Tunisia’s historical position.”

The movement expressed its “rejection of all arbitrary measures to place people under house arrest without judicial authorisation and without explanation, and prevent tens of thousands of Tunisians from travelling based on their professional positions or their political or human rights activists.”

On the other hand, the statement warned of the “disastrous economic and financial effects of the difficult political situation that the country is going through.”

The movement urged “all political forces and national and human rights organisations to respond to the call for dialogue to defend the Tunisian democracy and confront all violations of the basic rights of Tunisians.”

Ennahda saluted “all government institutions, public administrations, and state agencies for their efforts to preserve the Tunisian state and public facilities, and ensure the continuation of the minimum level of public services.”

READ: Ennahda sets up committee to find solutions to Tunisia’s political problems

On 25 July, Tunisian President Kais Saied cited Article 80 of the constitution to dismiss Prime Minister Hicham Mechichi, freeze the work of parliament for 30 days, lift the immunity of ministers, and appoint himself as head of the executive authority until the formation of a new government.

This comes after violent protests broke out in several Tunisian cities criticising the government’s handling of the economy and the coronavirus. Demonstrators had called for parliament to be dissolved.

The majority of the country’s political parties slammed the move as a “coup against the constitution” and the achievements of the 2011 revolution.