Three political parties warned on Wednesday that Tunisia is taking “resolute steps” towards dictatorship amid a deep political crisis in the North African nation.
As examples to back their claim, the Coordination of Social Democratic Forces, which brings together the Democratic Current, the Republican Party, and the Democratic Bloc for Labor and Freedoms, cited in a joint statement, “the frequency of security and judicial abuses against protesters and opposition, the repetition of divisive rhetoric of Tunisian President Kais Saied’s speech, and the authorities’ continuous ignorance of the severe social and economic crisis.”
Saied was accused by the parties of using the security and judiciary “to harass the opposition” and ignoring the economic and social challenges facing Tunisians. They also renewed their commitment to confronting what they termed as a “creeping dictatorship” in the country.
While warning those who allege the country of descending towards dictatorship as “dancing on the ropes,” the Tunisian president said on Monday that he was working to “enable the people to express their will.”
Since July 25, 2021, when Saied dismissed the government, suspended parliament, and assumed executive authority, in a move decried by opponents as a “coup”, Tunisia has been in the throes of a deep political crisis.
Amid the ongoing Russian war on Ukraine, the North African country is also going through a severe economic crisis aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shortly after lawmakers convened a plenary session to overturn his measures, Saied dissolved the suspended parliament last month.
