Tunisian President Kais Saied fired Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and suspended parliament (Reuters), causing one of the country’s biggest crises since its 2011 revolution. The moves, which opposition parties denounced as a coup, followed large anti-government protests over economic malaise, political dysfunction, and rising COVID-19 cases.
The turmoil threatens what many experts consider to be the sole democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring. For months, Saied competed (NYT) with Mechichi and parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi for power, increasing his own authority by refusing to swear in ministers. After a day of protests calling for the dissolution of parliament, Saied announced that he would “freeze” the body for thirty days and assume executive power alongside a new prime minister. Military forces blocked lawmakers (Al Jazeera) from entering parliament today. The foreign ministries of Germany, Russia, and Turkey voiced concern.
Analysis
“Saied is still the most popular figure in Tunisia, and beyond his base, his moves likely also appeal to Tunisians who loathe [moderate Islamist party] Ennahda and other political parties, as well as those who seek a stronger presidency,” the College of William & Mary’s Sharan Grewal tells the Washington Post.
“COVID-19 isn’t responsible for the precarious economic balance in many countries at risk of conflict, but it almost certainly increases the likelihood of strife. Just as a health crisis can trigger an economic collapse, economic crises can trigger political instability in the societies least able to weather the storm,”
