Parliament suspended, PM dismissed

TUNISIA Tunisian President Kais Saied announced on Sunday the suspension of the country’s parliament and the dismissal of Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi following a day of protests against the ruling party.

Car horns sounded after Saied made the announcement following an emergency meeting at his palace.

Earlier, thousands of Tunisians had marched in several cities protesting against t he ruling party, criticising what they said was government failures in the North African nation amid crippling coronavirus rates.

I n t he capital Tunis, hundreds of protesters gathered i n front of parliament, shouting slogans against the I sl amist- i nspired r uling Ennahdha party and premier Mechichi.

Protests were also reported in the towns of Gafsa, Kairouan, Monastir, Sousse and Tozeur.

“The people want the dissolution of parliament,” the crowd chanted.

Several pr ot e s t e r s were a r r e s t e d and a journalist was injured when the crowd hurled stones and police fired t ear gas canisters, an AFP reporter said.

“The constitution does not allow for the dissolution of parliament, but it does allow for its work to be suspended,” the president said, citing Article 80 which permits such a measure in case of ‘ imminent danger’.

Saied said he would take over executive power ‘ with t he help’ of a government headed by a new chief appointed by the president himself.

He also said that the immunity would be lifted for parliamentary deputies.

Tunisia has been overwhelmed by COVID19 c a s e s , i ncl udi ng more than 18 000 people who have died in a country of around 12 million.

Despite a decade passing since the 2011 revolution which overthrew dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia remains prone to chronic political turmoil that has stymied efforts to revive crumbling public services.

The country’s f r act i ous poli t i cal class has been unable to form lasting, effective governments.