By John Ikani
The Tunisian president has published details of a new constitution that would vastly expand his powers.
Kais Saied, who has ruled by decree since sacking the government a year ago, says the draft document published in the official gazette, will be put to a referendum next month.
Under the proposals – drawn up by a committee handpicked by Mr Saied – most political power would be exercised by the president.
He would have ultimate authority over the judiciary and army as well as the government.
Notably, judges, police, army and customs officials would not have a right to go on strike. Judges have recently been on strike for weeks in protest at Saied’s moves to curtail judicial independence.
In a move that may chafe with conservatives, Islam will no longer be the state religion, though Tunisia will be regarded as part of the wider Islamic nation.
Critics accuse Mr Saied of dragging the country back towards the autocratic form of government that was overthrown during the Arab Spring revolt of 2014.
Opposition political parties have rejected the referendum in advance.
