Hundreds take to streets to protest president’s plan for constitution

Hundreds of people gathered in Tunis in a protest against a constitutional referendum called by President Kais Saied, a move his opponents say would cement his grip over power.

The demonstration was organized by the Salvation Front, a coalition including Ennahda party that Saied dissolved in March.

The demonstrators rejected to change the 2014 constitution, demanding a return to the normal democratic order. Jawhar bin Mubarak, a leader in the Salvation Front, told A24 News Agency that the one-man rule has pushed the country into crises at the political, economic and social levels, He said the demonstrators are protesting high unemployment, corruption, rising prices of foodstuffs and fuel shortage and the deterioration of rights and judiciary.

Shaima Issa, another leader in the Front, said the government is unable to start negotiations with the International Monetary Fund or to bring financial benefits to the country as president Kais Saied has consolidated his one-man rule since seizing executive power.

Muhammad al-Qumani, a lawmaker in the dissolved parliament, warned that his country is facing an economic and social catastrophe and is moving toward a famine.

Today’s demonstration followed a similar protest on Saturday called by the Free Constitutional Party over the referendum, and a strike on Thursday by a powerful labour union over government economic reform plans, which brought much of the county to a standstill.