Prominent Tunisia law professor slams Saied’s ‘unilateral’ decisions

Prominent Tunisian Professor of Constitutional Law, Sghaier Zakraoui, has criticised the “unilateral” decisions announced by President Kais Saied, saying if the president has a programme he should present it to the people through elections.

Zakraoui, who had previously publicly supported Saied’s controversial decisions to freeze parliament and government in July, said the president was supposed to involve others in the decision making, including jurists who have contributed to the success of his transitional process, adding: “What is happening now is unnecessary.”

Professor Zakraoui explained that according to Tunisian law, the president commissions a committee of experts to prepare draft amendments and reforms and does not prepare or write legislation on his own.

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“The December 13 procedures should have been preceded by consultations with the country’s organisations such as the Tunisian General Labour Union, and the Union of Lawyers, but the president refused even the organisations, parties and personalities that had supported him and therefore he has isolated himself.”

On 13 December, the political crisis deepened in Tunisia after the president announced that legislative elections would be organised on 17 December 2022 according to a new electoral law, a referendum on amendments to a new draft constitution would be held in July, he added.

Tunisia’s president Kais Saied is bleeding the country – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]