Former President Marzouki urges Tunisians to ouster Kais Saied

Moncef Marzouki, a former Tunisian President and active politician, has called on the army and Tunisians to remove President Kais Saied over the current situation that has plunged the North African country in the unknown since July 25.

Saied has put in place exceptional measures, including the freeze of the parliament activities and suspension of lawmakers’ immunity and seizure of the executive power after he sacked outgoing Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi.

The measures taken on the back of the article 80 of the constitution and expected to last for 30 days, have been extended until further notice.

In a Facebook post, Marzouki urged Tunisians to rise up like Algerians through the Hirak (uprising that led to the resignation of late Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2019) to remove Saied.

The 76-year-old politician who led Tunisia for three years (December 13, 2011 – December 31, 2014) also called on the country’s security apparatus and the media to oppose the president.

Saied has repeatedly defended his move arguing that it is not a coup and was necessary to restore the country.

Speaking in an address on Monday from the governorate of Sidi Bouzid, President Kais Saied announced the elaboration of a new electoral Code as part of new changes he wants to induce after seizing all powers on July 25, making it clear however that the exceptional measures decreed on July 25 will continue.

He also announced the establishment of new transitional provisions to run the country, and said that a Prime Minister will be designated shortly.

“The exceptional measures will continue, transitional measures have been put in place, a head of government will be appointed and a new electoral code will be put in place. The world must know that rights and freedoms will be respected and that sovereignty belongs to the people,” he said in the address aired on state-run television.