Tunisian anti-terrorism police summoned the nation’s major opposition determine for questioning on Friday as a political disaster deepens within the wake of President Kais Saied’s transfer to dissolve parliament and impose one-man rule.
Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Ennahdha get together and speaker of the dissolved parliament, met police after investigations had been opened into different legislators who had defied Saied.
The president demanded that investigations be carried out after members of parliament held a web based session on Wednesday and voted to revoke all of the emergency measures he imposed – regardless of his decree final summer time suspending the chamber.
Ghannouchi, 81, was accused of “having plotted in opposition to state safety, which is a harmful precedent”, stated get together spokesman Imed Khemiri, who was additionally summoned for a similar causes.
On Thursday, Ghannouchi stated at the very least 30 parliamentarians had been questioned by anti-terrorism police.
The president accused those that took half within the session, together with Ghannouchi whose workplace introduced the transfer, of conspiring in opposition to state safety and he ordered the justice division to open authorized proceedings in opposition to them.
Final month Saied took management of the judiciary, changing a prime council, whose job was to make sure judicial independence, with judges he chosen himself.
Saied’s strikes elevate the prospect of a crackdown on the opposition as Tunisia’s major gamers develop extra energetic in opposing his makes an attempt to remake the political system in what they name a coup.
“It’s a turning level in focusing on his opponents,” stated deputy parliament speaker Samira Chaouachi.
Saied has defended his seizure of most powers final summer time as needed to save lots of Tunisia from a corrupt, self-serving elite he paints as chargeable for years of political paralysis and financial stagnation.
He has additionally pledged to uphold the rights and freedoms gained in a 2011 revolution that introduced democracy, and to this point there have been few arrests or makes an attempt to silence critics.
Nonetheless, late on Thursday Saied stated he wouldn’t name new parliamentary elections but regardless of dissolving the chamber, and railed in opposition to those that took half in Wednesday’s session.
“There will likely be no dialogue with those that tried a coup and search to divide Tunisians,” he stated, suggesting those that opposed his strikes might not be allowed to run in future elections.
Strongest opposition
Ennahdha and the Free Constitutional Get together, which leads in opinion polls, have each stated they’ll oppose Saied’s plans for a referendum on a brand new structure he plans to introduce.
The events are sworn ideological enemies and though there isn’t any signal they might work collectively in opposition to Saied, their extra energetic opposition to his strikes suggests the disaster is intensifying.
“Saied, who usurped energy, ought to instantly finish the distinctive measures,” stated the Free Constitutional Get together’s chief Abir Moussi.
The strongest opposition to Saied since final summer time has come from Ennahdha, which has been a major participant in successive governments because the revolution.
Moussi and her Free Constitutional Get together decry Ennahdha’s Islamist background and reward the regime of the late Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who was eliminated in 2011.
Many blame Ennahdha for the political impasse and financial issues confronted by the nation over the previous 10 years. However Saied’s strikes have prompted accusations he’s taking Tunisia again in direction of one-man rule.
Saied, a former legislation professor elected in 2019 amid public anger in opposition to the political class, has given himself powers to rule and legislate by decree, in addition to seizing management over the judiciary.
The parliament constructing in Tunis has remained closed off and guarded by safety forces for the previous eight months.
“The way in which it’s trying is that this going to be a protracted drawn-out investigation,” stated Al Jazeera’s Elizia Volkmann, reporting from Tunis.
“There was lots of rigidity and nervousness on Tuesday and other people had been anticipating arrests again then, the jack boot kicking out the door kind of state of affairs.
“However it seems like that is going to be a protracted course of. Parliament was speculated to be convening one other plenary session on Saturday however are actually holding again to ensure that there are going to be sufficient MPs accessible to participate due to the minimal quorum.”
The USA, a significant donor to Tunisia because the revolution, has voiced concern at Saied’s dissolution of parliament and threats to analyze legislators, and urged “a swift return to constitutional authorities”.
Saied is looking for worldwide funding to avert a disaster in public funds amid rising financial ache for Tunisians after years of political bickering.
The UGTT labour union, essentially the most highly effective political physique within the nation with a couple of million members, is considering a basic strike to demand dialogue on each political and financial reforms. It beforehand urged Saied to dissolve parliament but additionally to carry fast elections afterwards.