Mechichi bows to “presidential decrees”: I will not be a disruptive element for Tunisia

Tunisia’s deposed Prime Minister, Hichem Mechichi, has announced the acceptance of President kais Saied’s extraordinary decisions, saying, “I will not be a disruptive element for Tunisia.”

“In order to spare the country from further tension at a time when it is in dire need of all forces to join forces, I cannot in any way be a disruptive element or part of a problem that complicates Tunisia’s situation,” Mechichi said in a statement.

“I announce that I am standing as I have always stood by our people and their entitlements and I announce that I will not hold any position or any responsibility in the state,” he said.

“I will hand over responsibility to the person who will be tasked by the Tunisian president to head the government,” he said.

On Sunday, Said announced the freezing of all parliamentary activities and the dismissal of Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi after a day of protests against the Brotherhood’s Ennahdha movement in many cities across the country, despite the heavy deployment of police to limit movement.

These decisions were made under Article 80 of the constitution, following an emergency meeting at the Carthage Palace, as the country faces an unprecedented crisis on the political and health levels as well as power struggles and the intransigence of the Brotherhood.