Tunisian President Kais Saied suspended parliament and sacked Prime Minister Hisham al-Mashichi, after a day of protests against the ruling party, which denounced the move as a «coup».
Thousands of Tunisians marched in several cities yesterday to protest against the Islamist Ennahda party.
They criticized what they described as government failures in the North African country and the rise of the Corona virus.
After Mr. Saeed announced the suspension of Parliament after an emergency meeting in his palace, the streets were filled with the sounds of car horns and fireworks.
In Tunisia, hundreds defied a coronavirus curfew to gather on the capital’s roads.
Since Mr. Said was elected president in 2019, he has been in a confrontation with Mr. Meshichi and Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi.
Competition has prevented ministerial appointments and diverted resources from addressing many of Tunisia’s economic and social problems.
«We are facing the most sensitive moment in Tunisia’s history,» said Mr. Said.
He said the constitution did not allow parliament to be dissolved, but allowed it to suspend it, citing Article 80 allowing it in case of «imminent danger».
In a subsequent Facebook post, he clarified that the suspension would be for 30 days.
«The necessary decisions were taken to save Tunisia, the state and the Tunisian people,» he added.
The party responded in a statement on Facebook, «What Kais Saied is doing is a coup against the revolution and against the constitution. Ennahda members and the Tunisian people will defend the revolution.»
The Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to his dismissal.
Mr. Saeed said he would take over the executive branch «with the help» of the government, whose new head would be appointed by the president himself.
He also said that the parliamentary immunity of the deputies will be lifted.
A senior Ennahda official, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the protests and subsequent celebrations were organized by Mr. Said.
«We are also able to organize large demonstrations to show the number of Tunisians who oppose these decisions,» they said.
Earlier in Tunisia, hundreds of people gathered in front of parliament and chanted anti-Ennahda and Mechichi slogans.
Demonstrations were also reported in the towns of Gafsa, Kairouan, Monastir, Sousse and Tozeur.
A number of protesters were arrested and a journalist was injured when people threw stones and police fired tear gas canisters.
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