Tunisian President Kais Saied on Sunday dismissed the country’s Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and halted parliament’s operations following violent protests against the ruling party over the country’s political and economic crisis and crippling coronavirus rates, reported Africa News.
Hundreds of protesters rallied in front of the parliament shouting slogans against Ennahdha and premier Mechichi after a spike in COVID-19 cases that has increased economic and political troubles. The protests were organized on the 64th anniversary of Tunisia’s independence by a group called the July 25 Movement.
“We have taken these decisions … until social peace returns to Tunisia and until we save the state,” President Saied said in a televised address after an emergency security meeting at his palace.
President Saied said he would name a new prime minister soon to bring calm to the country. He also lifted the immunity of all parliament members and used a special constitutional measure allowing him to assume executive power and freeze parliament for an unspecified period of time until normal institutional workings can be restored.
The Tunisian president refuted the accusations that he had conducted a coup. He said the decisions were taken on the basis of Article 80 of the constitution. He also clarified that the suspension would be for 30 days.
Mr. Saied and the parliament were both elected in separate popular votes in 2019, while Mechichi took office last year replacing Elyes Fakhfakh.
Last week, the Tunisian prime minister sacked Health Minister Faouzi Mehdi after he had had ordered the opening of temporary vaccination stations for Tunisians over 18 years of age, leading to stampedes at some of the vaccination centers.
Tunisia, a country with a population of around 12 million, has already reported more than 18,300 COVID-19 deaths.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Tunisia’s daily covid-19 death tally is the highest in the African continent.
