(Washington, D.C., 3/29/2022) On March 28th, Tunisia’s Assembly of the People’s Representatives–despite being suspended since Tunisian President Kais Saied’s July 25, 2021 seizure of “exceptional powers”–announced that it would hold two full sessions this week. These sessions will take place on Wednesday, March 30th, and Saturday, April 2nd. On tomorrow’s agenda will be a discussion and possible vote on a draft resolution which seeks to restore democratic norms in Tunisia and mark an end to the “exceptional measures” introduced by President Saied since his July 25th power grab. The draft resolution will “nullify” Saied’s September 22nd Presidential Decree No. 117 which indefinitely extended the suspension of Parliament, lifted “parliamentary immunity of its MPs until further notice,” and transferred the parliament’s legislative powers to the president, effectively granting Saied unchecked control over almost all aspects of governance, including the right to regulate media, political parties, civil society, and courts. The resolution would also reverse the president’s unilateral decree of February 6, 2022 which dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council.
At Saturday’s session, the parliament will “discuss the dangerous financial, economic and social conditions that Tunisia is experiencing, and the contribution of the Assembly of People’s Representatives to the salvation of Tunisia and guaranteeing the dignity of the Tunisian people,” according to the parliament’s March 28th statement.
President Saied warned against these plans to hold plenary sessions: “The activities of parliament are suspended. Anyone who dreams of turning back the clock is delusional and his pipe dreams will never come true,” said the president in a March 26th meeting with Prime Minister Bouden. The Tunisian United Network (TUN) welcomes the decision of the suspended Tunisian Parliament to hold plenary sessions, and calls on the Biden Administration and members of the U.S.
Congress to urge President Saied to refrain from interfering in the legislative process or hindering the scheduled parliamentary meetings in any way. TUN also calls on the United States and the international community to welcome these developments and recognize the Tunisian People’s Assembly as a legitimate functioning body with a vital, constitutional role as a “check” on the executive branch. Further, TUN calls on the Tunisian parliamentarians who represent the interests of the Tunisian diaspora–including Tunisians living in the United States–to attend the session and vote to pass the proposed resolution that would put an end to Saied’s exceptional measures. TUN’s President Mongi Dhaouadi asserts that
“We applaud the courageous decision made by the Tunisian Parliament yesterday. This marks a step in the right direction and I hope that the U.S. government and the international community stand in support of democracy in Tunisia which begins with the restoration of the parliament’s constitutional role.”
Contact: Mongi Dhaouadi | Email: [email protected] | Phone: (860) 514-8038