Tunisian President Kais Saied on Monday warned against attempts to hold sessions of the suspended parliament saying forces and institutions will confront those who want to push Tunisians to fight, reported Gulf News.
The warning comes after Speaker Rached Ghannouchi said earlier on Monday that parliament will hold two full sessions this week, to consider revoking President Kais Saied’s moves towards a new constitution and one-man rule.
After a meeting on Monday, the office of the Assembly of the People’s Representatives said the sessions will be held on Wednesday and Saturday.
“[The office] decided to hold a general session on Wednesday to examine revoking [Saied’s] exceptional measures and another on Saturday devoted to the dangerous financial and socio-economic situation”, it said.
Saied described Monday’s meeting as illegal, saying that the state is not a puppet. He called the attempts to reconvene parliament as desperate and have no legal value.
“Tunisia has the sovereignty of the state abroad, and the sovereignty of the people within its borders,” the Tunisian president said during a recorded national security meeting published by the Tunisia presidency’s Facebook page.
“Whoever wants to tamper with it or reach internal fighting, there are forces and institutions that will deter them from their goals,” he added.
On Monday, the United States voiced concern about the democratic path in the country and urged Tunisian authorities to respect freedom of expression and stop civilian-military trials.
In a statement following a visit to Tunisia, Uzra Zeya, US under-secretary for civilian security, democracy, and human rights, said the authorities should initiate an inclusive political and economic reform process, in coordination with political parties, unions, and civil society.
Tunisian President Saied dismissed the government, suspended parliament, and granted himself executive powers in July last year as part of power grab measures, widely condemned as a coup.
