Tunisian opposition creates anti-Saied coalition

A former opponent under the dictatorship of Zine el Abidine Ben Ali announced on Tuesday the creation of a multi-party front to save Tunisia from its deep crisis after the coup of President Kais Saied.

A left-wing political figure, Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, 78, opposes what he describes as a “coup” by President Saied, who has been in power since July 25.

At a press conference in Tunis, this veteran of the political scene announced the creation of the National Salvation Front with the objective of uniting all political forces, in order to restore the democratic and constitutional process guaranteeing freedoms and rights in the country. “We want a return to legitimacy and democracy”, he said.

The priority of this Front is to save an economy in deep recession because of a rotten political situation that is repelling investors, Chebbi added.

Made up of five political parties, including the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha movement, Mr. Saied’s pet peeve, and five associations, the coalition aims to attract other political parties and influential figures before launching a national dialog on reforms designed to save the country, according to Chebbi.

He called for the establishment of a “salvation government” to govern Tunisia for a “transition period” until new elections are held. After months of political gridlock, Saied, who was elected in late 2019, arrogated full powers in late July by sacking the prime minister and suspending parliament before dissolving it in March.

In February, the Tunisian President dissolved the Supreme Council of the Judiciary and replaced it with a temporary judicial oversight body, the members of which he appointed. On April 22, he assumed the right to appoint the head of the Electoral Authority, a few months before a referendum and a general election that the body is to oversee.

Critics accuse it of establishing a new autocracy in the country, the only survivor of the Arab Spring that it was the birthplace of in 2011. Besides the political impasse, Tunisia is in deep socio-economic crisis and is in talks with the International Monetary Fund to obtain a new loan.