Mon 26 July 2021:
The United Nations is calling on all stakeholders in Tunisia to exercise restraint, avoid violence and resolve disputes through dialogue amid the ongoing political crisis in the country, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a press briefing on Monday.
Mass anti-government protests erupted in Tunisia on Sunday as President Kais Saied dismissed Prime Minister Hicham Mechichi and froze parliament operations for 30 days while also lifting lawmaker immunity. Saied said he would assume executive power alongside a new prime minister who is yet to be appointed.
“We are following the situation in Tunisia very closely since the announcement by President Saied yesterday. We call on all stakeholders to exercise restraint, refrain from violence and ensure that the situation remains calm. All disputes and disagreements should be resolved through dialogue,” Haq said.
Calls for a national coalition government
Speaking from the capital, Tunis, journalist Ahmed Ellali said that several opposition voices were calling for a national coalition government to be formed. He said they believed it to be the only solution to the political crisis.
“There are calls from the labor union for the army to remain in a neutral position. They demand that the president provide constitutional guarantees following his decision,” said Ellali.
“The international syndicate of Tunisian journalists has released another statement condemning what happened in the Al Jazeera bureau. It warned the president of further breaching the freedom of expression,” he added.
‘A coup no doubt’, says former president
Speaking from Paris, Tunisia’s former president, Mouncef Marzouki condemned the current president, Kais Saied’s, move as a clear “coup”.
“There is no doubt about the fact that it’s coup because the president himself said I have all the powers,” said Marzouki. “The main idea we have when writing the constitution is to say that the President is no longer the guy who has all the power.”
“Tunisia was supposed to be a success story in the Arab world. But it’s no longer a success story. But let me remind you that we have this political crisis amidst the worst health crisis that we have ever had in Tunisia,” he added.
Arab League urges Tunisia to quickly overcome turbulence
The Arab League, in a phone call with Tunisia’s foreign minister, called for a return to stability and calm in the country after the president’s abrupt removal of the government pitched it into turmoil.
An Arab League statement said the Tunisian foreign minister fully briefed its secretary general on the situation in Tunisia and added: “The…League urges Tunisia to quickly get through the current turbulent phase, restore stability and calm and the state’s ability to work effectively to respond to the aspirations and requirements of the people.”
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