Tunisian President Sacks Premier, Freezes Parliament

Tunisian President Kais Saied on Sunday said he had frozen parliament and relieved Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi of his position, amid deepening political and economic crises in the country, Tarak Guizani reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

The measures come hours after protesters took to the streets in several parts of the country, demanding the government resign and the parliament be dissolved. Tunisia has experienced an economic slowdown due to public unrest and attacks by militant insurgents since an uprising that inspired the Arab Spring revolts of 2010-11.

Following a meeting with senior security commanders Sunday, Saied announced he was assuming the executive authority along with a new prime minister he will appoint. Saied, an ex-law professor, also announced he would lift immunity from all members of parliament.

He said the steps he took Sunday did not mean he was suspending the constitution or "deviating from the constitutional legitimacy."

He said the measures aimed at "saving" Tunisia and conformed to the law.

"We are experiencing the most delicate moments in Tunisia's history, but they are the most dangerous minutes," he added in a televised address.

In recent months, Saied, who took office in 2019, has been locked in a political dispute over the powers of the government and parliament. The Tunisian constitution gives the president the right to take exceptional measures in case of "a grave danger that threatens the nation’s entity, security and independence."

Saied’s office termed the steps as "exceptional dictated by circumstances." In an online statement, the presidency said the parliament would be frozen for 30 days.

WEEKLY FEATURE : PAL READY TO SOAR WITH PANDEMIC