Tunisians protest against president ahead of parliamentary elections

Tunisians have staged a mass rally ahead of parliamentary elections to protest against President Kais Saied's power grab.

"Saied get out!” protesters chanted as they marched in the center of the Tunisian capital city of Tunis.

According to Press TV, speakers at the rally, including senior politicians from opposition parties that have been marginalized by Saied, said the vote scheduled for December 17 to be held under the new constitution was illegitimate and urged a boycott, accusing Saied of carrying out a coup.

The National Salvation Front, a body representing the main parties in Tunisia’s opposition, including the powerful Ennahdha Party also known as the Renaissance Party, has been urging supporters to boycott the vote.

“The elections will be held under the supervision of a body that is not neutral and is loyal to the ruling authority,” Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, the Head of the alliance, said as he announced its stance in September.

Saied gained nearly total powers after voters voted “yes” in July in a referendum on a new constitution, which gives the president the ultimate authority over the government and judiciary.

His critics say Saied, who dissolved the parliament and dismissed the prime minister in March 2021, wants his loyalists in the national assembly to consolidate a system of government run by one person with absolute power.

ME