Masses of supporters of the strongest party in Tunisia gathered in Tunis on Saturday for one of the largest protests in years. According to eyewitnesses, thousands of followers of the Islamic conservative Ennahda from many parts of the country marched through the capital. They called for “national unity” and “political stability”. The party called for a “march in defense of democratic institutions” on Saturday. The demonstration was initially peaceful.
Image: APA (AFP)
The background of the protest is a worsening political crisis in the small Mediterranean country, reported the state agency TAP. President Kais Saied refuses to agree to a cabinet reshuffle proposed by Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi. Parliament has already approved this. The conflict paralyzes the government, which in addition to the corona pandemic is also struggling with a severe economic crisis.
Tunisia's gross domestic product (GDP) shrank by an estimated 8.2 percent in 2020 – according to the International Monetary Fund, the sharpest downturn since the country gained independence in 1956. Unemployment was around 17 percent in the last quarter of last year.
In the past few weeks there have already been several protests against the government in Tunisia, including against corruption and police violence. According to the Interior Ministry, hundreds of people were arrested. Tunisia was the only country in the Arab world to make the transition to democracy after the 2011 uprisings. However, it continues to struggle with serious economic problems and social unrest.
With the march on Saturday, the Ennahda party seems to demonstrate its power and want to strengthen Prime Minister Mechichi. Tunisia had experienced “irresponsible behavior” for several months that was intended to “disrupt the democratic process”, wrote the party in its call for the march. An “atmosphere of doubt and uncertainty” with regard to state institutions had arisen in the population.
