Tunisia’s judiciary said on Wednesday it was investigating the two main parties in parliament, both of which have accused the president of launching a coup after citing emergency powers on Sunday to take control of the government and freeze the legislature.
The judiciary claims that the investigation began ten days before the president’s move, but it will increase the pressure on the parties – Ennahdha and the heart of Tunisia. The parties were not immediately available for comment on the probe.
A decade after the end of autocratic rule through a 2011 revolution that brought the Arab Spring, Tunisia is facing the toughest test of its democratic system to date.
President Kais Saied has not yet appointed a new prime minister or outlined how he will handle the situation during the 30-day term he has frozen in parliament. Ennahdha, which on Sunday had urged supporters to take to the streets against Saied’s actions, has since called for calm and sought national dialogue to get through the crisis.
There were no signs of political tensions across the country on Wednesday without protests or other disturbances, although a heavier security presence was in central Tunis. The army remains at parliament, government and television stations it surrounded on Sunday.
Saied, which has reiterated a long-standing rule banning gatherings of more than three people on public streets, has also tightened some existing COVID-19 restrictions, including a night curfew and a ban on travel between cities.
The president’s decision was widely condemned around the world, with European leaders urging Saied to respect the constitution. Western governments have conveyed to Saied that they are closely following his commitment to upholding the rule of law, including freedom of the press and legal independence.
Later on Tuesday, Tunisia’s foreign minister spoke with his Turkish, French, Italian, German and EU counterparts and with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to assure them that Saied’s actions were temporary, the ministry said. Turkey has strongly opposed the coup, saying it is “deeply concerned” about the suspension of the Tunisian parliament, which represents the “will of the people”.
“Protecting the democratic gains and Tunisia’s unique position, which is an exemplary success story in the democratic process in line with the expectations of the people of the region, is crucial not only for Tunisia but also for the region,” he said. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs said in a written statement. “Within this framework, we want democratic legitimacy to be restored within the framework of the provisions of the Tunisian Constitution as soon as possible.”
It noted that Turkey believes that the Tunisian people will overcome this challenge and promised support.
“Turkey has no doubt that the Tunisian people, who have successfully navigated many challenges on the road to democracy, will also overcome the current test.”
The closure of the elected parliament in Tunisia and the dismissal of the government is a coup against political legitimacy, said Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) spokesman Ömer Çelik on Monday.
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