Tunisian civil society rejects new draft constitution

The first civil society forum meets on Thursday in Tunis to discuss a new draft of the proposed constitution that will be put to a referendum on July 25th.

The forum is organized by the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights, the Tunisian Association of Democratic Women, and the National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists.

Participants say the draft constitution, proposed by President Kais Saied, is unilateral and is not based on a national dialogue.

They express their rejection of the new constitution in its current form, which included minor amendments and did not affect the president’s power.

The participants say the new version does not guarantee rights and freedoms, fair trials, and the separation of powers.