Tunisia ‘state of exception’ hits halfway with no govt in sight

Halfway into Tunisia’s 30-day “state of exception” announced by President Kais Saied last month, he has yet to lay out a road map or appoint a government.

Despite naming several ministers to replace those in the sacked administration of Hichem Mechichi, Saied is facing calls to pick a prime minister quickly and explain his next steps.

And while many have welcomed his moves to strip MPs of their immunity, some worry his powers could easily go too far, with a suspended parliament unable to rein him in.

“There needs to be a road map, for the current situation and of what comes next, to show how we’re going to return to the constitution,” said Aymen Bensallah, an analyst at parliamentary monitor Bawsala.

The uncertainty is weighing on an economy already in tatters following a decade of political unrest and stalemate, exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic which has brought the health system to the edge of collapse and dealt a severe blow to the vital tourism sector.

Saied’s move also comes as Tunisia negotiates with the International Monetary Fund for a fourth bailout loan in 10 years, likely to be conditioned on biting austerity measures that would inflict further pain on ordinary Tunisians.

Many Tunisians have backed Saied’s move to strip parliamentarians of their immunity, seen as a long-overdue move against a corrupt and inept political class.

According to monitor I Watch, 14 MPs are facing trial, on charges including tax fraud, corruption, conflicts of interest or even sexual harassment.

“Some members of parliament were facing prosecution and were using their parliamentary immunity to protect themselves,” said Bensallah.

“But we still don’t have any information on the question of arrests.”

Analyst Hatem M’rad said Saied’s moves were “risky”.

The president “is thirsty for justice. But the absolute quest for justice is risky,” he said.