President Kais Saied sacked more government officials after sacking the Prime ministers, froze the parliament, and took executive powers. Within a week, the defense and ministers as well as numerous top officials.
The 63-year-old president, a former law lecturer and a political newbie who won a landslide victory in the 2019 presidential election signed decrees dismissing a long number of senior officials, including the army’s chief prosecutor.
He also fired the CEO of the national television channel Wataniya on Wednesday. In addition, he has lifted the parliamentary immunity of lawmakers and assumed judicial powers after he assumed Executive powers, he launched an investigation into three different political parties whom he suspects have received bribes before the 2019 elections.
In a joint statement, key civil society groups expressed their displeasure with the parliament being suspended for 30 days, claiming that it is unlawful and causes concern.
Sam Kimball, a Tunisian journalist explained that Saied believes that close to $5 billion were taken from the government inappropriately. According to Kimball, the president’s actions appear to be an attempt to “reassure those who may have questions about the harsh measures” he has taken in recent days.
The president, however, believes his actions align with the constitution to take extreme measures to protect his country against any danger consequently, the country is battling with an economic downturn, inflation, high unemployment rate, and a rise in COVID-19 infections.