An anti-Kais Saied political coalition is born
A left-wing political figure, Ahmed Néjib Chebbi, 78, former opponent under the dictatorship of Zine el Abidine Ben Ali announced on Tuesday the creation of a front bringing together several parties to “save” Tunisia from its deep crisis after the coup by President Kais Saied that he described as a “coup d’etat” by President Saied who has taken over full powers since last July 25.
After months of political deadlock, Saied, elected at the end of 2019, assumed full powers at the end of July by dismissing the Prime Minister and suspending Parliament before dissolving it in March. In February, the Tunisian president dissolved the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM) to replace it with a “temporary” judicial oversight body whose members he appointed. On April 22, he assumed the right to appoint the head of the Electoral Authority, a few months before a referendum and a legislative election that this body must supervise. His detractors accuse him of establishing a new autocracy in the country, the only survivor of the Arab Spring of which it was the cradle in 2011.
Also during a press conference in Tunis and to oppose the Tunisian President, Ahmed Néjib Chebbi announced the creation of the “National Salvation Front” with the objective of uniting all political forces and restoring the democratic process. and constitutional as well as freedoms and rights in Tunisia. Made up of five political parties, including the Islamist-inspired movement Ennahdha, a sworn enemy of Kais Saied, and five associations, this coalition aims to attract other political formations and “influential” personalities before launching a national dialogue on reforms intended to “save the country”, according to Chebbi. “We want a return to legitimacy and democracy”, he said, adding The priority of this Front is to save an economy “in deep recession” due to a “rotten” political situation which repels the investors, Chebbi added. He advocated the establishment of a “salvation government” to lead Tunisia through a “transition period” until new elections are held. Besides the political deadlock, Tunisia is struggling with a deep socio-economic crisis and is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to obtain a new loan.