Tunisia’s judicial council vows to resist President Saied’s intent to dissolve body

Tunisia’s judicial council, the country’s legal body warranting the independence of the judiciary, has vowed to withstand with all legal means President Kais Saied’s intention to dissolve it.
The Tunisian leader in a statement made Saturday during a visit to the ministry of interior indicated that the council belongs to the past.
“The judicial council belongs to the past from now on,” he said.
Saied made the statement amid a feud between him and the council. He has accused the council for being in league with some politicians and refusal to ruler over some corruption and assassinations cases in the country.
Saied has also canceled all privileges offered to the members of the council.
In reaction to Saied’s indication, Youssef Bouzakher, chairman of the council on Sunday told local radio Mosaïque FM, the judiciary will resist the president.
“The President of the Republic has no legal mechanism to dissolve the council,” he said, adding that his colleagues will remain in their positions and will use all legal instruments to fight Saied.
Saied in July seized all major powers in the North African country as he fired the then Prime Minister, froze the activities of the parliament and suspended the immunity of its members.
Several critics believe the move has rolled back the democratic gains achieved following the 2011 revolution.