[News] Instability in Tunisia and accusations of a coup d'état after the removal of the prime minister

[DeepPurple]

https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20210726/tunez-inestabilidad-pandemia-golpe-estado-crisis-constitucional/2139382.shtml

The decision of the Tunisian president, Kais Said, to dissolve the Parliament and dismiss the Prime Minister, Hichem Mechichi, on Sunday night is a clear "coup" for the main political parties of the country, which this Monday are demanding the continuity of the assembly. "This is a blow against Tunisian democracy and its Constitution. Tunisia is the only success story of the Arab Spring and this story does not end here," underlines the statement released by Ennahda, the main parliamentary force and partner of the Government, after the announcement that Said did after 9 at night.

This formation shared a video on social networks that shows how the Army prevented several deputies from entering Parliament at around two in the morning, including the speaker of the chamber and leader of the Islamist party, Rached Ghannouchi. For his part, the leader of the Islamist Coalition Al Karama, has called the initiative illegal and has asked the deputies to resume their post as of Tuesday to carry out the removal of the president.
Before the president's decision was known, several regional headquarters of Ennahda had been attacked and set on fire throughout Sunday in the different demonstrations that took place throughout the country to demand the resignation of the Government and the dissolution of Parliament for its management of the coronavirus crisis and deteriorating living conditions. Thousands of citizens later returned to the streets to celebrate the announcement that Said adopted at the end of an urgent meeting with senior officials from the army and security forces.

In addition to dismissing the head of government and suspending Parliament for 30 days, the Tunisian president has immediately withdrawn the parliamentary immunity of all deputies "to restore social peace and save the state and society." Despite the curfew and the restrictions of the health crisis that prohibit all kinds of public demonstrations, the capital has experienced a festive atmosphere in which thousands of cars and passers-by celebrated the news before the eyes of the security forces until the wee hours of the night.

It has also decreed the dismissal of the acting ministers of Defense and Justice, Ibrahim Bartaji and Hasna Ben Slimane respectively. After this decision, the portfolios will be directed by the general secretaries or those in charge of administrative and financial affairs of the corresponding departments until the appointment of a new Prime Minister and the formation of a Government team.

Closure of airspace and maritime borders
According to the local press, the authorities have decreed, starting this Monday at midnight, the closure of airspace and maritime borders for an unlimited duration. In addition, Army units were deployed around Parliament, the Government headquarters and other institutional buildings. The website "Tunisie Numérique" also revealed that the courts have adopted precautionary measures to prohibit leaving the national territory against the President of Parliament, as well as his 64 deputies.
Kais Said has assured that he will assume the Presidency of the Executive with the help of a new prime minister, whom he will appoint, during the transition period. He has also defended the application of Article 80 of the Constitution, which states that, in the event of "imminent danger", the President can take "exceptional" measures after consulting with the Head of Government and the President of Parliament. The objective, he has said, is to guarantee a regular functioning of public power "as soon as possible" while the Constitutional Court - pending creation since 2015 - must supervise this process and decide on its extension.

On the other hand, a presidential order has prohibited the gathering of more than three people on public roads and the movement of people and vehicles between cities outside the hours of the curfew, except to satisfy basic needs or for urgent health reasons.

Since the beginning of the year, the Maghreb country has experienced an institutional blockade after the Parliament supported the reshuffle of the Executive and the president refused to accept it, considering that he was not previously consulted and due to the suspicions of conflicts of interest that they plan about some of the new members. To this is added the economic crisis that has dragged the country in recent years, aggravated by the epidemic, which has forced the Tunisian government to ask the international community for help due to the lack of vaccines and medical equipment to face the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic, which has already caused a total of more than half a million cases and 18,600 victims.