Tunisian opposition vows to fight president’s move to replace constitution
By Tarek Amara
TUNIS (Reuters) – Dozens of opposition supporters took to the streets of Tunisia’s capital on Saturday to protest towards the beginning of talks over a brand new structure, which they see as an try by President Kais Saied to consolidate a seize for energy.
Saied final yr dismissed parliament and commenced ruling by decree in a transfer his opponents described as a coup, however he stated was crucial to save lots of Tunisia after a “decade of spoil”.
The president, who has additionally changed the judicial supreme council and the electoral fee, has pledged to carry a referendum on July 25 to vote on a brand new structure, and on Saturday talks over drawing this up began in Carthage.
Nevertheless, Saied has excluded all the primary political events, together with the Islamist Ennahda and the Free Destourian Social gathering – the biggest two within the nation. The highly effective UGTT Union has refused to take part within the talks.
Dozens of supporters of the Ettakatol, Attayar, Employees and Republican events took to the streets of Tunis on Saturday, saying the talks in Carthage have been illegitimate.
The police prevented them, together with some social gathering leaders, from reaching the headquarters of the electoral fee.
“Tunisia has entered the trail of falsifying the need of the voters and an environment by which freedoms are usually not out there,” Republican Social gathering chief Issam Chebbi advised reporters.
The Ennahda and Free Destourian events, a two rival events stated this week they’d additionally step up protests, whereas the UGTT has known as for a nationwide strike on June 16 after the federal government refused to extend wages.
Washington this week accused Saied of undermining Tunisia’s democratic establishments after he fired dozens of judges.
Three small events and activists loyal to the president, some economists, the Union of Businessmen UTICA and the Human Rights League participated within the first session of the talks in Carthage.
A draft of the brand new structure is because of be offered to Saied on June 20.
(Reporting by Tarek Amara; Enhancing by Mark Potter)
