Saeed dissolves the municipal councils earlier than the native elections
Tunisian President Kais Saied mentioned late on Wednesday night that he would dissolve the municipal councils months earlier than the scheduled date for his or her elections, which might additional dismantle the techniques of presidency that have been developed after the 2011 revolution that introduced democracy.
“We’ll focus on a decree to dissolve municipalities and substitute them with non-public councils,” he mentioned in a video recording of a cupboard assembly that was posted on-line.
He mentioned new councils would even be elected, however beneath new guidelines he would write. He beforehand known as the prevailing councils “states inside a state” and mentioned they have been “not impartial”.
Within the 2018 native elections, a 3rd of the municipal councils got here beneath the management of Ennahda, an Islamist social gathering that has been a staunch critic of Saied.
Elected municipal councils have been launched after the 2014 structure known as for decentralization — a structure that changed Saied with one he wrote himself and handed final 12 months in a low-turnout referendum.
“Sadly, the pinnacle of state is just not satisfied of decentralization,” Aden Bouassida, head of the Nationwide Union of Municipalities, advised Radio Mosaique.
Saied has concentrated nearly all energy within the presidency since he abruptly closed the elected parliament in July 2021 and moved to rule by decree, steps opposition events have known as an undemocratic coup.
The president rejected the accusation, saying his strikes have been authorized and essential to save lots of Tunisia from years of chaos by the hands of a corrupt and self-serving political elite.
Final month, authorities arrested critics and distinguished opposition figures, together with distinguished members of Ennahda, whom Saied described as criminals, traitors and terrorists within the first main crackdown on dissent towards his rule.
Elected municipal councils have struggled to make a big influence in lots of areas of Tunisia, working on small budgets.
Most political events boycotted elections in December and January for a brand new, principally weak parliament, which meant that native councils have been the final efficient department of presidency to retain a presence.
(Reuters)
