Tunisian people came out on the streets on Sunday to protest President Kais Saied’s extended power grab, reported TRT World. Over 2,000 protesters gathered in central Tunis in support of an independent judiciary.
The protest was organized by the Islamist Ennahda, the biggest party in the suspended parliament, and by a separate civil society organization.
The protest follows President Saied’s signing of a decree to establish a provisional Supreme Judiciary Council to replace the present council. The decree will give him the power to dismiss judges or block their promotion, helping consolidate his power after he seized executive authority in a move his foes call a coup. The decree also prohibits judges from striking.
Late last week Tunisian President Saied said he would dissolve the High Judicial Council (CSM). The move led to a nationwide shutdown of courts by judges saying the move would infringe on judicial independence.
Sunday’s ruling established a new 21-member Temporary Supreme Judicial Council. Nine of the members are appointed by the Tunisian president, who also now has power to dismiss any judge failing to do his professional duties.
Moreover, “it is forbidden for judges of all ranks to go on strike or hold any organized collective action that could disturb or delay the normal working of the courts”, it read.
Last July, Saied sacked the government, suspended parliament, and seized a range of powers before moving to rule by decree, sparking fears for what had been seen as the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring uprisings. While Saied insisted that his exceptional measures were meant to save the country, critics have accused him of orchestrating a coup.
Saied had accused the CSM of blocking sensitive investigations and being influenced by the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party. He said he has no intention of interfering with the Tunisian judiciary, but rights groups and world powers have criticized his move.
