TUNIS — Hundreds protested in
Tunisia Saturday against
President Kais Saied ahead of parliamentary elections that represent the latest
consolidation of a power grab he began in July last year.
اضافة اعلان
The protests were organized by political parties that have
been marginalized by Saied — first by him firing the government and suspending
parliament last year, then by a new constitution.
"Freedoms, freedoms — the police state is
finished!" protesters shouted.
Demonstrators marched in central Tunis holding aloft banners
with the words "resign" and others complaining that people have
become "poorer and hungrier", AFP correspondents saw.
Elevated food prices and shortages of basic goods reflect a
long-running economic crisis in the North African country.
After protests toppled longtime dictator
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, Tunisia established a democracy that was quickly riven by
factional infighting.
Saied's moves since July last year, while initially welcomed
by some, have raised fears among others that the only democracy to emerge from
the Arab Spring protest movements is headed back to autocracy.
The economy has been struck by the coronavirus pandemic and
the spike in commodity prices driven in large part by
Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The International Monetary Fund in October announced
agreement on a $1.9 billion rescue package for Tunisia, on condition of
reforms.
Opposition parties are boycotting parliamentary elections
set for December 17, saying the new electoral law is part of Saied's
"coup".
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