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Saied: The exceptional measures will continue in Tunisia

September 21, 2021 at 3:56 pm

Tunisian President Kais Saied in Tunis, Tunisia on July 26, 2021 [Tunisian Presidential Image/Anadolu Agency]

Tunisian President Kais Saied yesterday confirmed that the exceptional measures he enacted in July will continue and announced that “transitional provisions have been put in place”, describing protests against his decisions as “theatrical”.

Addressing his supporters in the governorate of Sidi Bouzid, Saied said he considered “the protesters rejecting the exceptional measures as a poorly directed play with bad actors.”

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. He extended the measures indefinitely at the end of August.

Saied said he believes “the exceptional measures came from a sense of responsibility to preserve the Tunisian state.”

READ: Tunisia’s president says he’s going to change the election law

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

Saied stressed that “the work of exceptional measures will continue, and transitional provisions have been established,” referring to the beginning of preparations for enacting transitional laws and amending the electoral law, without specifying a date for the completion of these measures.

Regarding the delay in appointing a new prime minister, Saied said: “The government is not the main issue here, but rather the entire system that must be reconsidered, because it did not serve the interests of Tunisians.”