Creeping authoritarianism is a real risk in Tunisia
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Significance
He did not name a new prime minister. Over July 25-26, Saied dismissed Prime Minister Hicham Mechichi, dissolved his government, suspended parliament for 30 days, lifted parliamentary immunity and declared himself chief prosecutor, triggering Tunisia’s worst political crisis in a decade.
Impacts
- The Ennahda party could be persecuted once again, this time on corruption charges, as the reconciliation offered excludes its members.
- Tunisia may become a new ideological battleground, pitting Turkey and Qatar against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
- The EU, the United States and Algeria have some influence on Tunisia and could perhaps play a moderating role.