Tunisian President Kais Saied declares he will rule by decree, Protests erupt

Tunisia’s President has declared he can rule by decree and ignore parts of the constitution as he prepares to change the political system.

The Tunisian President Kaïs Saied issued the presidential decrees for increasing the total powers he granted himself two months ago.

These decrees include the continual suspension of the Parliament’s powers and all the lawmakers’ immunity from the prosecution. However, the official gazette said that now the salaries of the lawmakers’ are frozen.

Tunisian President Kais Saied declares he will rule by decree, Protests erupt

Kais Saied – Rule by Decree

“Shut down the coup”

Tunisians stage protest over President Kais Saied’s move to seize extra powers https://t.co/NBXSIIKdFS pic.twitter.com/elBWCSjT2l

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 18, 2021

As per The Indian Express report, Saied intends to rule by the presidential decree and not by the constitution. Further, the laws will not pass through the Parliament. On July 25, 2021, Mr. Saied sacked the prime minister of Tunisia, suspended Parliament, and assumed the executive authority, implying that these steps were taken due to a national emergency. These events prompted immediate opposition from his rivals.

Committee to amend the political system

For law professor Mouna Kraiem, the new emergency measures amount to “the establishment of a dictatorship in the full sense of the word. The President has denied wanting to be a dictator, saying that he eventually aims to put his political reforms to the public in the form of a nationwide referendum.

#BREAKING: Tunisian demonstrators gather in the capital #Tunis on Saturday to protest against Tunisian President Kais Saied's seizure of executive and judicial powers in July, which was branded as a "constitutional coup" by many political forces in the country. #تونس pic.twitter.com/UMHzY8Fs6N

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) September 18, 2021

Tunisia’s President has declared he can rule by decree and ignore parts of the constitution as he prepares to change the political system. Kais Saied had held nearly total power since July 25 when he sacked the prime minister, suspended Parliament, and assumed executive authority, citing a national emergency in a move his foes called a coup.
The provisions, announced on Wednesday, appear to be aimed at tipping the balance of power in favor of the presidency. These were laid out in a series of decrees, which were published, in the official gazette.
The presidency said Saied would form a committee to amend the political system. Other parts of the constitution would stay in force, it said.