This announcement occurs after members of Parliament brave the parliament suspension by organizing a virtual session.
Le Monde with AFP
The Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed, said Wednesday, March 30, that he decided to dissolve Parliament, eight months after suspending him to arrogate the full powers in July 2021. A choice intended to “preserve the State and its institutions and to preserve the Tunisian people, “he justified at a meeting of the National Security Council.
This announcement intervenes a few hours after one hundred and twenty deputies – on a total of 217 – have braved the suspension of the Parliament by organizing a virtual session to the appeal of the office of the Assembly of the representatives of the People, which brings together the Presidency of Parliament and representatives of parties who sit there.
Call for members to organize elections
One hundred and sixteen deputies voted in favor of a bill to annul the exceptional measures taken by Mr. Saïed, who, in their view, block the democratic process and institute the power of a single man in the country cradle “Arab Spring”. MPs, including elected officials of Ennahda and independents, also called for the organization of anticipated parliamentary and presidential elections to emerge from the political and socio-economic crisis.
The Minister of Justice ordered the opening of an investigation against these members of Parliament, accusing them to “conspire against the security of the State”. After months of political blocking, Mr Saïed, elected at the end of 2019, had arrogated the full powers on July 25 by liming the Prime Minister and suspending the Parliament dominated by the Islamist Inspiration Party Ennahda, his black beast.
On September 22, the Head of State had formalized his full powers by “exceptional measures” which extend the suspension of Parliament. They also allow him to legislate by decree, to chair the Council of Ministers and to amend the laws.