Pres. Saied’s Decree Rule Puts Tunisia’s Democracy in Peril

The current state of Tunisia is characterized by a president who governs by decree and revel in actively dismantling the judiciary, according to an opinion piece authored by Nadia Marzouki for “The New York Times”.
President Kais Saied, who originally came to power through a democratic process in 2019 following a populist campaign, positioned himself as an outsider fighting for the people against the elite, achieving an impressive victory with 72 percent of the vote. Saied however, since taking office, has systematically undermined the country’s democracy.
Saied dissolved the Parliament and introduced a new constitution that granted him extensive powers, effectively enabling him to suppress and repress those who oppose his rule.
Consequently, Tunisia’s prisons have become overcrowded with unjustly detained journalists, activists, and political prisoners who endure deplorable and inhumane conditions. Many individuals have been compelled to flee the country in order to avoid a similar fate.
The article reveals that within a little over a decade, Tunisia has undergone a distressing transformation from a hopeful democracy to a regime characterized by terror and authoritarianism.