Several thousand demonstrators rallied in the Tunisian capital on Sunday to protest against President Kais Saied's seizure of power, calling on him to step down in the biggest show of public anger since his intervention.
Saied this week brushed aside much of the 2014 constitution, giving himself power to rule by decree two months after he sacked the prime minister, suspended parliament and assumed executive authority.
Saied has said his actions, which his opponents have called a coup, are needed to address a crisis of political paralysis, economic stagnation and a poor response to the coronavirus pandemic. He has promised to uphold rights and not become a dictator."We will protect democracy...the constitution is a red line," she said, holding up a copy of the constitution.
Saied has not put any time limit on his seizure of power, but said he would appoint a committee to help draft amendments to the 2014 constitution and establish"a true democracy in which the people are truly sovereign"."He is acting like he is the sun that is rising on the country, the general prosecutor, the president, the parliament, the government. Like he is everything."
Ennahda has been the most powerful party in Tunisia since the 2011 revolution that led to the ousting of Ben Ali, playing a role in backing successive coalition governments.
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