The Workers’ Party termed the decision to prosecute its general secretary Hamma Hammami on charges of violating electoral laws a political stunt by the Kais Saied government

Over the last few months, Tunisian president Kais Saied has consolidated his control over the executive and legislative authority in the country. His latest action was to announce the formulation of a new constitution to be put to a national referendum next year followed by general elections

The constitutional referendum is scheduled to be held on July 25, 2022, exactly a year after president Kais Saied took control of all executive and legislative powers in Tunisia through a series of exceptional measures. Critics and opposition political parties have called his actions a “presidential coup”

The waste crisis which has been ongoing for several months was further aggravated by the reopening of a controversial landfill by the authorities in defiance of court orders, giving rise to environmental and public health concerns

Law 38 directed the government to provide jobs to those who have been unemployed for 10 years or more. The law was a lifeline for the long-term unemployed, especially for those from marginalized and underprivileged communities and regions of the country

Local residents have been opposing the reopening of the landfill for months, expressing concerns about diseases and effects on public health and the environment

Separate protests were organized by the Workers’ Party and the Ennahda party over the weekend. At the first protest, speakers called for a third way between Kais Saied’s dictatorship and the Islamist parties

A crisis of political governance has complicated the pandemic response in Tunisia. Health activists are demanding that the country’s primary health care network be utilized properly for ensuring greater vaccine coverage

20 Tunisian and international human rights groups also denounced the president’s actions in a joint statement, calling them unilateral, authoritarian and in violation of the Tunisian constitution

Most of the political groups in the country are divided on Saied’s move, with some of them openly supporting it and calling it a much-needed “reform process” in the country. However, leftist parties in the country, such as the Workers Party, opposed president Saied’s move calling it a coup.

After sacking the prime minister and suspending the parliament in July, president Kais Saied issued decree 117 on Wednesday, according to which he can rule by bypassing the provisions of the constitution adopted in 2014

The Tunisian General Labor Union and various political parties have condemned president Kais Saied’s moves to consolidate his power through a fresh series of pronouncements issued last week