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Saied Gets His Grip


FILE PHOTO: Tunisian then-presidential candidate Kais Saied speaks during an interview with Reuters in Tunis 9.17.2017
FILE PHOTO: Tunisian then-presidential candidate Kais Saied speaks during an interview with Reuters in Tunis 9.17.2017

Tunisia's president published a planned new constitution on Thursday that he will put to a referendum next month, expanding his own powers and limiting the role of parliament in a vote most political parties have already rejected.

The draft constitution published in the official gazette late on Thursday would bring most political power under Saied, give him ultimate authority over the government and judiciary.

Under the new constitution, the government would answer to the president and not to parliament, though the chamber could withdraw confidence from the government with a two-thirds majority.

Saied would be allowed to present draft laws, have sole responsibility for proposing treaties and drafting state budgets, appoint or sack government ministers and appoint judges, the gazette said.

Previously, political power was more directly exercised by the parliament, which took the lead role in appointing the government and approving legislation.

The constitution would allow Saied to continue to rule by decree until the creation of a new parliament through an election expected in December.

It would also create a new 'Council of Regions' as a second chamber of parliament, but it gives few details on how it would be elected or what powers it would have.

Under the terms of the new constitution, Saied could serve two terms of five years each, but extend them if he felt there was an imminent danger to the state, and would have the right to dissolve parliament. The document has no clause that allows for the removal of a president.

Judges, police, army and customs officials would not have a right to go on strike. Judges have recently been on strike for weeks in protest at Saied's moves to curtail judicial independence.

However, Saied has maintained most parts of the 2014 constitution that enumerated rights and liberties, including freedom of speech, the right to organize in unions and the right to peaceful gatherings.

Voters will be asked to approve the new constitution in a July 25 referendum for which there is no minimum level of participation.

With most of the political establishment opposed to his moves and urging their supporters to boycott the vote, analysts say the measure is likely to pass, but with only limited public involvement.

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