Tunisian president ousts prime minister, suspends parliament amid unrest

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Tunisian President Kais Saied announced, on Sunday, the dismissal of the country’s prime minister and the freezing of parliament amid mass protests in the country, Reuters reported.

Why it matters: The move, which comes on the 64th anniversary of Tunisia’s independence, escalates Said’s long feud with Prime Minister Hicham Mechichi and poses a challenge to the 2014 constitution that “divides powers between the president, prime minister and parliament,” according to Reuters.

The big picture: Saeed defended his decision in line with the constitution and said he would take over the executive branch alongside a new prime minister, according to Reuters.

Saeed also suspended the legal immunity of members of parliament.

State of play: Hours ago, Tunisia was rocked by mass protests in several cities fueled by popular discontent with the government’s handling of the coronavirus and the deepening economic crisis, Reuters reported.

And in several cities, violent protesters and police clashed, as crowds stormed the offices of the Ennahda Party, the largest party in parliament, demanding the resignation of the prime minister and the dissolution of parliament, according to Al Jazeera. Sunday’s protests were the largest in months and the largest targeting Ennahda in years, according to Reuters.

What they say: “Many people have been deceived by hypocrisy, treachery and the theft of people’s rights,” Saeed said in a statement to state media, according to Reuters.

“I warn anyone who thinks of resorting to weapons… and whoever shoots a bullet, the armed forces will respond with bullets,” Saeed added.

Tunisian Parliament Speaker and Ennahda Party leader Rached Ghannouchi told Reuters that the president launched a “coup against the revolution and the constitution.”

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information.

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