The president of Tunisia, Kais Said, last night dismissed 57 judges by decree for alleged links to cases of corruption and “protection of terrorists.”
With this decision, Said strengthens his control over the judiciary, after dissolving the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM) in February, and advances his unilateral policy since last July he assumed full powers and dismissed the Government.
The Ministry of Justice is overseeing administrative investigations against judges and judicial workers, which are then referred to the Disciplinary Council.
The Tunisian president has ruled by decree for almost a year, without a Parliament – which he first suspended and then dissolved in March – and with the 2014 Constitution interrupted since September.
In April, Said modified, also by decree, the formation of the Independent Higher Institution for Elections (ISIE), in charge of monitoring the referendum on July 25 and legislative elections on December 17.
Currently, it is carrying out a national dialogue, from which the powerful UGTT union has disassociated itself as “exclusive”, and drafts a new Constitution to create a “New Republic”, which aims at the establishment of a presidential system without political parties.
The political opposition has demanded a return to the “democratic path”, while Said’s decisions, which had broad popular support on July 25, 2021 to rescue the “transition” of 2011, generate more mistrust every day due to their drift authoritative.