The UGTT, Tunisia’s main trade union, and major left parties gave calls for boycott of the national dialogue initiated by President Kais Saied last week, almost a year after he dismissed the elected government 

The demonstrations went ahead despite heavy presence of security forces and riot control personnel to prevent protesters from joining

Several opposition parties have already indicated that they will not participate in any constitutional referendum or elections based on a new set of rules drawn up unilaterally by the president

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 leftist Workers’ Party of Tunisia released a statement on Monday condemning the president’s moves and calling them a violation of the constitution.

As protests against the mismanagement of the pandemic and deepening economic crisis continue, many warn that the president’s moves violate the constitution and endanger Tunisia’s constitution

The Tunisian League of Human Rights (LTDH) in a statement condemned the violence unleashed by the security forces. They accused the government of prime minister Hichem Mechichi of trying to “silence the voices of protest.”

Protests against police brutality were organized for the fourth consecutive day after a Tunisian man arrested on drugs-related charges died in police custody. The man’s family has alleged that he was beaten to death

The journalists’ union, in coordination with labor unions, has called for a general strike on April 22 to protest what they claim is a politically motivated appointment to the post of the Chief Executive Officer of the state news agency, TAP

The protests this year began on the 10th anniversary of the resignation of long-time president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali during the Arab Spring protests. The protests were heavily repressed by the police leading to more anger on the streets

In the 10 years since the Arab Spring, while democracy has functioned in Tunisia at a procedural level, it has not met the aspirations of the people, especially the youth

The protesters were opposing increasing police brutality and the announcement of fresh lockdown measures on Thursday. Protests took place in at least 10 cities across the country