In Tunisia, after a wave of arrests of opposition members, the largest protest rally against President Kais Saied took place so far. Thousands of demonstrators followed the call of the powerful trade union UGTT on Saturday and marched through the center of the capital Tunis. They carried banners reading “No to one-man rule” and chanted, “Freedom! End the police state!”
“We will continue to stand up for freedoms and rights at all costs. We are not afraid of imprisonment or arrests,” trade union leader Noureddine Taboubi shouted to the crowd. In recent weeks, the police have arrested numerous leading opposition figures. They are charged with conspiracy against state security. However, opponents of the government accuse Saied of a coup.
Parliament overthrown, presidential powers increased
Saied ousted parliament in 2021 and replaced the government with ministers he had chosen. He has also increased the powers of the president, so that almost all power is in his hands. Opponents fear Saied wants to turn the state into an autocracy and reverse the democratic gains of the 2011 Arab Spring revolution that began in Tunisia.
The discontent of the population could continue to grow given the economic crisis in the country in combination with sharp price increases and a food shortage as well as an empty state treasury. Labor Party leader Hamma Hammami said the protests were in response to Saied’s “creeping dictatorship”. “He wants to instill fear, but we are not afraid.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
