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Tunis, Tunisia – Political parties and civil society groups continue to reject President Kais Saied’s “monopoly of power”, claiming the right to decide the future of their country amid a worse socio-economic situation.
Hundreds of Tunisians gathered in the capital on Friday to celebrate the 11th anniversary of the ousting of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in the capital to protest the government’s ban on the rapid spread of COVID-19.
The ban came two days before protests by major political parties and national representatives exceptional measures President Saied took it on July 25 because it was aimed at stopping protests by critics.
Until last year, it was Revolution Day, which was officially celebrated on December 17, as promised by the president. protesters gathered in various places During mid-Tunis, security units stormed Habib Bourguiba Avenue after blocking all major roads known as the focal point of the 2011 revolution.
Despite a large police presence, the country’s main political parties, civil society organizations, lawmakers, lawyers and activists staged a demonstration.
“The political elite is trying to express its presence in the public sphere in an act of resistance against the president’s intention to monopolize the political process,” Tunisian political analyst Tarek Kahlaoui told Al Jazeera after protests on Friday.
On Mohamed V Avenue, supporters of the moderate Islamist Ennahdha party rallied alongside members of the Citizens Against the Coup campaign.
The Ennahdha movement, which had the most seats in the now-frozen parliament, has led opposition parties to protest against Saied’s disruption of parliament, the assumption of governmental powers and a change in the constitution. call it a coup. These measures were strengthened by a presidential decree of 22 September.
“We are not ready to return to a monopoly of all power, to be under the control of a single man or a one-party government,” Gafsi Ennahdha, a senior member of Al Jazeera, who did not give his real name, told Al Jazeera. Concentration on Mohamed V.
“We will not give up the political freedoms we have achieved with the revolution,” he added, citing a focus on Saied’s decision-making and control over the judiciary.
Gafsi accepted his party’s call for a resumption of democratic life and a common ground for a comprehensive national dialogue, and suggested that this was the only way out of the political situation.
“The way out of this crisis is to return to democracy,” a Montassar protester gathered in the same crowd. “The revolution is taking place. We continue through the transitions slowly but surely.”
The Citizens Against the Coup initiative, which brings together members and supporters of the Ennahdha party and politicians and human rights defenders, announced that they will hold protests from December 17 to January 14 to call for an end to emergency measures and a return to democracy.
The collective also called for a resumption of parliamentary work, the defense of the constitution, the protection of rights and freedoms, and the establishment of a day for early parliamentary and presidential elections.
Political activist and constitutional law professor Jaouhar Ben Mbar, coordinator of the coup campaign, said in a press conference on Thursday that the meetings were held “to form a united democratic national front to fight the coup.”
‘Authoritarian Fundraising’
Attorney Ridha Belhaj, a member of the campaign’s executive committee, said after Friday’s rallies that Saieden’s widespread rejection of decisions, high security presence and savage methods used against protesters would be a “turning point.”
“A large opposition front will be formed to deal with this authoritarian drift, especially as the economic and social crisis deepens, with Kais Saied becoming increasingly isolated,” Belhaj said.
In recent days, the Citizen has launched pre-coup talks with various parties with the aim of building a political front.
His proposed plan is to return it to constitutional rule and focus on restarting parliamentary activity, albeit temporarily. This, in turn, would allow for political reforms, such as changing the parliamentary election law, creating a constitutional court and preparing for new elections, Belhaje explained.
At the same time, he continued, a national debate should be opened with all relevant forces in Tunisian society to discuss the much-needed economic and social reforms.
Saied has repeatedly vowed to hold a national interview in the coming months, though he has yet to comply.
“The big problem since the revolution is the discrepancy between the socio-economic demands of citizens that have not been met to date and the evolution of neoliberal policies that have continued since 2011,” Belhaje said.
“This is the time for the political class to reflect on the mistakes made in the last 11 years and move forward under the new conditions.”
The Workers’ Party held its rally outside the Central Bank to commemorate the anniversary of the revolution, in a symbolic opportunity, “to condemn the continuation. The government of Najla Bouden The same financial policy that has hurt the people and the country, ”said Secretary-General Hamma Hammami.
Outside the bank, Jawaher Channa, an activist affiliated with the party, expressed strong opposition to both the seizure of power by the president and the restoration of a political establishment run by Ennahdha and his allies.
“The way out, as we see it, is to create a progressive and revolutionary axis capable of leading the next phase,” Channa told Al Jazeera, noting that the focus should be on economic and social rights, where all governments have failed. to date.
Coordination of the Social Democratic Party, including Attayar (Democratic Current), Ettakatol (Democratic Forum of Labor and Freedoms) and Al Joumhouri (Republican Party), among others, also protested in central Tunis.
The long-standing roadmap that Saied unveiled last month is a constitutional referendum on July 25, after a public network consultation between January and March, and parliamentary elections in December this year.
‘Rebalancing power’
According to Kahlaoui, the main test is whether opposition forces will go with the president’s plan and fight from within, or impose their own. He questioned whether they would be able to deal effectively with Saied and propose a viable alternative plan for overcoming the current crisis.
According to him, the political elite should act “within the existing roadmap”, focusing on Tunisia’s social and economic priorities.
“It would be more realistic to go beyond the announced plan, then find real opportunities to rebalance power with Saied, and at least move to ensure the restoration of the country’s institutions and the functioning of democracy,” Kahlaoui argued. “That’s the way to go.”
He said that the president is a real “change-maker” in the way he directs the socio-economic process and will be able to limit the potential mobilization of social movements, in line with the deterioration of economic and social conditions.
He added that the strong General Union of Tunisia (UGTT) is being careful to avoid an open fight with President Saied.
UGTT general secretary Noureddine Taboubi criticized the president’s roadmap in December, saying he does little to address the country’s social and economic problems.
“How long will we discuss the constitution? Nowadays people have empty stomachs and are getting poorer and poorer, ”Taboubi said. He added that the union supported Saied’s July 25 move, but “it did not [him] a white check ”.
In a statement released on Friday, the UGTT called for dialogue with the participation of various national forces to act in accordance with the law and the protection of rights and freedoms.
Although Saied’s actions in July continue to receive support from the Tunisian population, the president has lost his reputation as his opposition has become increasingly critical of what he sees as an autocratic trajectory.
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