Opponents and supporters of Tunisia's leader have staged rival demonstrations, reflecting a deep political divide in the country.
In the heart of Tunisia, yesterday saw clashing rallies as supporters and opponents of President Kais Saied voiced their disagreements on the streets of the capital. The opposition, led by human rights groups, expressed deep-seated worries that the birthplace of the Arab Spring is drifting towards one-man rule.
The demonstrators, echoing the 2011 uprising that ousted former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, sloganeered, "Saied go away, you are a dictator" and "The people want the fall of the regime". Meanwhile, pro-Saied protesters defended their president, chanting, "No to foreign interference" and "The people want Saied again". Riot police were deployed in force to keep the groups apart, with no reported clashes.
The anti-Saied rally marked the second opposition protest in a week, embodying mounting concerns over the country's democratic future. The demonstration ended at Habib Bourguiba Avenue, where Ahmed Souab, a prominent lawyer and fierce critic of Saied, was previously detained last week. His arrest was preceded by prison sentences handed down to opposition leaders on conspiracy charges, drawing criticism from France, Germany, and the United Nations.
Although Saied dismissed these criticisms as meddling in Tunisia's sovereignty, the opposition views his moves as an assault on the democracy achieved during the 2011 revolution. They argue that his seizure of extra powers in 2021, when he shut down the parliament, assumed authority over the judiciary, and imposed executive rule, amounts to a coup. Yet, Saied maintains his actions were necessary to combat corruption and stabilize the nation.
Post-2021, significant political leaders like Abir Moussi, leader of the Free Constitutional Party, and Rached Ghannouchi, the head of Ennahda – two of Saied's most prominent adversaries – have been imprisoned[1]. The government, however, insists that they stand for democracy in Tunisia[1]. In fact, they argue that the corruption-laden elite must be held accountable.
Tunisia is showing signs of authoritarian consolidation under the leadership of Kais Saied. In 2021, he initiated a self-coupe, removing the majority of government ministers, suspending parliament, and aggressively reforming the judiciary[2]. As a consequence, many critics face prosecution or are fleeing the country to avoid imprisonment[2][3]. Yet, democratic states and the European Union are facing increased pressure to provide conditional support in hopes of improving human rights[2][3].
Insights:
- Authoritarianism under Kais Saied: Since 2021, initiatives like firing government ministers, suspending parliament, and overhauling the judicial system have consolidated power in Saied's hands [2].
- State of political dissidents and opposition leaders: Following the mass trial and sentencing of critics, political dissidents and opposition leaders face repression, including prosecution, imprisonment, and exile [2][3].
- International pressure: The international community has expressed concern over Saied's actions, and there is growing pressure on democratic states and the European Union to make their support conditional on human rights improvements [2][3].
- The government insists that prominent opposition leaders, such as Abir Moussi and Rached Ghannouchi, stand for democracy in Tunisia, despite their imprisonment following Saied's power grab in 2021.
- The United Nations, along with France and Germany, have criticized the prison sentences handed down to Tunisian opposition leaders on conspiracy charges, viewing it as an assault on the nation's democracy.
- Reuters reported that mounting concerns over Tunisia's democratic future were demonstrated in the opposition protests that took place on Habib Bourguiba Avenue, echoing the 2011 uprising.
- The UN, European Union, and other democratic states are facing increased pressure to provide conditional support for Tunisia, hoping to improve human rights conditions plaguing the nation.
- Protests against President Kais Saied have become a common occurrence in Tunisia, with citizens voicing their concerns about his one-man rule, reminiscent of the Arab Spring.
- The government's moves are being compared to a coup by critics, citing Saied's seizure of extra powers in 2021, which included shutting down the parliament and assuming control over the judiciary.
- The right to peaceful protest remains a contentious issue in Tunisia, as riot police must be deployed to keep supporters and opponents of the president apart, even though no reported clashes have occurred as of yet.
- In the heart of Tunisia, opposition protestors, led by human rights groups, argue that Saied's actions have undermined the democracy achieved during the 2011 revolution, as they called for his removal from power during the recent demonstrations.
- President Kais Saied's opponents express deep-seated worries that the birthplace of the Arab Spring is drifting towards authoritarian rule, pointing to Saied's aggressive actions to combat corruption as a means to consolidate power.
- In the aftermath of the 2021 power grab, many critics face prosecution or flee the country to avoid imprisonment, signs that Tunisia may be transforming into a nation with less respect for individual and political rights.
