Shifting Powers in Tunisia: Saied’s New Appointment Amidst Political Turbulence
On Wednesday, President Kais Saied unexpectedly dismissed Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani without providing any rationale for the decision.
Following this abrupt change, Saied appointed Kamel Madouri, previously the Minister of Social Affairs, to fill Hachani’s role, as confirmed by an official statement from the presidency.
Hachani had started his tenure on August 1 of the previous year, stepping into the position after Najla Bouden, Tunisia’s inaugural female prime minister, was also removed without a given explanation by Saied.
Kamel Madouri, the newly appointed prime minister, had only assumed the social affairs portfolio in May, making his ascension quite sudden.
A brief social media update from the president’s office depicted Saied welcoming Madouri, stating that he had “decided to appoint him as the head of the government, succeeding Mr. Ahmed Hachani.”
President Saied, aged 66, won office through democratic means in 2019 but later executed a dramatic concentration of power in 2021. He is currently positioning himself for re-election scheduled for October 6.
On Monday, Saied formally announced his candidacy for the upcoming election, although several potential opponents face obstacles, including legal challenges and imprisonment.
Upon registration, Saied asserted to journalists that his candidacy signifies “a struggle for liberation and self-determination,” with goals rooted in “establishing a new republic.”
As part of his relentless accumulation of authority, Tunisia’s constitution underwent revisions in 2022, instituting a presidential system that significantly constrains parliamentary powers.
Barriers for Opposition Candidates
Recently, Abir Moussi, a prominent opposition leader and former parliament member, received a two-year prison sentence for “spreading false news.” This ruling came shortly after her legal team attempted to file her candidacy while she has been incarcerated since October.
Nizar Chaari, a media figure, also found himself sentenced to eight months behind bars on the same day, following the arrest of three of his campaign staff for allegedly falsifying signatures.
Among the other imprisoned aspirants, Issam Chebbi, who leads the centrist Al Joumhouri party, and Ghazi Chaouchi, head of the social-democratic Democratic Current party, were both detained on grounds of “conspiring against the state.”
These individuals are part of a larger group of over twenty opponents of Saied, who have been caught up in a wave of incarcerations that began in February 2023.
Some candidates, such as Mondher Zenaidi and the rapper-turned-entrepreneur Karim Gharbi, claim they have faced unofficial barriers preventing them from registering. Authorities have reportedly withheld clean criminal record certifications that are a prerequisite for candidacy.
Retired Admiral Kamel Akrout alleged that officials denied him a record because the profession listed on his national ID card was outdated.
“The ruling regime has resolved to silence all dissenting voices,” screamed Akrout, adding that this shift hints toward “an undemocratic governance style.”
Last month, Agnes Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, stated that since Saied’s aggressive power consolidation, “violations once believed to be relics of the past are now starkly visible and increasingly systematic.”
In stark contrast, Saied claimed on Monday that his administration is not suppressing dissenting opinions, branding those who allege restrictions as “delusional.”
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