By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Barely a week to parliamentary elections, hundreds of Tunisians on Saturday took to the streets to protest against a new constitution put in place by the President, Kais Saied.
“Saied get out!” protesters chanted as they marched in the centre of the capital, Tunis.
Leaders of the protest, including opposition figures said the vote scheduled for December 17 was illegitimate and urged a boycott, accusing the president of carrying out an undemocratic coup.
“All the opposition is agreed on one position which is rejecting a coup and calling for a return to democracy,” Samira Chaouachi, a deputy speaker in the elected parliament that Saied dissolved, said.
The president dissolved the previous parliament in March 2021 and ruled the country by decree before amending the constitution to accrue more powers.
Only about a quarter of registered voters turned out to vote “yes” in July to a referendum on the new constitution, which gives the president the ultimate authority over the government and judiciary.
The Regional Director, International Commission of Jurists, Said Benarbia warned that the new constitution “defeats the very idea of separation of powers and checks and balances”.
He said that the “proposed constitution provides for an unbridled presidential system, with an omnipotent president, a powerless parliament and a toothless judiciary”.
President Saied claimed his actions were legal and necessary in order to save Tunisia from years of crisis and has repeatedly said he will not become a dictator.
The National Salvation Front, a body representing the main parties in Tunisia’s opposition, including Ennahdha, has been urging supporters to boycott the vote.
“The elections will be held under the supervision of a body that is not neutral and is loyal to the ruling authority,” Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, the head of the alliance, said as he announced its stance in September.
