Tunisian President Kais Saied on Monday appointed a temporary council of judges that replaces an independent watchdog that he abolished last month, reported Reuters.
The members of the new Tunisian “Temporary Supreme Judicial Council” were sworn in on Monday at the presidential palace in Tunis.
The Tunisian president directly appointed 9 of the 21 members of the new judiciary watchdog in replacement of magistrates of the High Judicial Council, while the others serve by virtue of their existing positions. The new council has no fixed term.
“We are fighting together against the corruption, against those who want to bring down the state,” Saied told the newly appointed judicial body members. “We are in a national liberation battle.”
Last July, President Saied had imposed exceptional measures, including suspending parliament, issuing legislation by presidential decrees, dismissing the government, and appointing a new one, sparking fears for what had been seen as the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring uprisings.
In February, he signed a decree and scrapped the High Judicial Council (CSM). The decree gave 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.
At that time, the Tunisian president said that removing the judicial council was necessary as Tunisians wanted the country “cleansed”. Saied had for a long time accused judges of the former council of corruption and of blocking inquiries. His decision had prompted demonstrations in various parts of the country. It resulted in a nationwide shutdown of courts by judges who claimed that the move would infringe on judicial independence.
Various rights groups across criticized the move what they called a “political purge of the judiciary” when some Tunisians were pleased. On the international scene, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet had urged the Tunisian President to restore the High Judicial Council.
