Tunisian President Indicates Plans To Amend Constitution

Tunisian President Kais Saied has announced the appointment “as soon as possible” of a new government and mentioned a future reform of the Constitution, during a walkabout in Tunis.

On 25 July, Saied dismissed the Prime Minister, suspended the activities of parliament and also took over the judiciary, for a month renewable before extending these measures on 24 August, “until further notice.

On Saturday evening, he did not give a precise date for the formation of the government, adding we are continuing the search for personalities who will assume this responsibility.

President Saied also referred to the 2014 Constitution, saying that he “respects it but we can introduce amendments to the text”. According to him, “the Tunisian people rejected the Constitution” and “Constitutions are not eternal.

It is therefore necessary, in his eyes, “to amend while respecting the Constitution”, while keeping in mind that “sovereignty belongs to the people.

In recent days, many media outlets have speculated that a provisional government will soon be announced, followed by a revision of the Constitution, which will then be submitted to universal suffrage via a referendum, before new legislative elections.

A legal theorist and teacher, Kais Saied has presented himself since his surprise election by a large majority in late 2019 as the ultimate interpreter of the Constitution.

He relied on its Article 80, which envisages exceptional measures in case of “imminent danger” to national security, to justify the decisions taken over a month and a half ago.