Tunisia parties call on army, judiciary to uphold the rule of law

Amid growing opposition to the measures taken by President Kais Saied, five political parties, on Friday, issued a joint statement calling on the army and judiciary to respect the country’s constitution and uphold the rule of law.

The signatories said that recent events have confirmed the fears they had expressed immediately after the President announced the state of emergency on 25 July.

These exceptional measures assumed under Article 80 of the constitution were “nothing but a pretext to obstruct state institutions, including the elected ones, and an attempt to break pledges and monopolise power.”

The statement read: “The actions of the President of the Republic constitute nothing but a coup against the constitution, in an adventure with uncalculated consequences.”

READ: Tunisians protest president’s ‘exceptional’ measures

In light of the worsening political crisis and the disruption of state institutions, including those that derive their legitimacy directly from the people, and in the absence of measures that would ensure the normal functioning of the state, the parties and movements called on:

• The judiciary to ensure that there is no authority above it except the law; and to assume its role in guaranteeing rights and freedoms, establishing justice, and affirming the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law.

• The military establishment to refrain from engaging in political conflicts and to abide by its role in defending the homeland, its independence, and the integrity of its territories.

• The military judiciary to decline the trial of civilians and to declare that itself devoid of the jurisdiction in cases related to civilians.

• National parties and organisations to unite their ranks in defence of constitutional legitimacy and confront the frantic efforts aimed at returning the country to dictatorship, and play their role in supporting popular movements and ensuring their peacefulness.

• All Tunisians to avoid being drawn into calls for division made by Kais Saied and to stand as an impenetrable fortress against attempts to reverse the gains of the revolution and defend their rights to work, freedom, and national dignity.

Signatories: 

Republican Popular Union Party

Alirada (Will) movement party

Popular Will Party

Amal wa ‘Aamal (Hope and Labour) movement

Wafa (Faithfulness) movement

Is Tunisia’s state of emergency being used to restrict freedoms? – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]