Tunisian president says parliamentary elections will not be held in three months

01 April 2022

 

Parliamentary elections in Tunisia will not be held in three months. This was announced by the President of the republic, Kais Saied, on Thursday during a meeting with the head of the government, Najla Bouden Romdhane.


"Those who dream of implementing Article 89 [of the constitution] must wake up," the Al Shorouq newspaper quoted him as saying. Saied stressed that the current focus should be on preserving the stability and independence of the state, not on the timing of elections.


According to Article 89 of the Constitution of the Republic of Tunisia, the president of the country "has the right to dissolve the Assembly of People's Representatives (the name of the country's parliament) and to announce new parliamentary elections within a minimum period of 45 days and a maximum period of 90 days."

 

On March 30, Saied decided to dissolve the country's parliament. He explained that the move was in response to MPs who had gathered via video link to approve a bill that would repeal exceptional measures and decrees by the head of state.


In early February, Saied announced his decision to dissolve the Supreme Judicial Council, accusing its members of corruption. In late July 2021, a political crisis erupted in Tunisia. Saied announced the suspension of parliament, the lifting of all deputies' immunity and the resignation of Prime Minister Hicham Mashishi.


The president's decisions were taken after demonstrations  held on 25 July in several major cities of Tunisia, where participants demanded the dissolution of Parliament, a change of political regime, as well as the prosecution of those responsible for the worsening epidemic and socio-economic situation in the republic.

 

 

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Based on materials from TASS