Tunisian president Kais Saied sacked 57 judges on Wednesday, accusing them of financial corruption, complicity, and protecting terrorists.
During a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Saied who tightened executive power last year, dissolved parliament and claimed to take a political decision to purge the judiciary system. His opponents described his actions as ”a coup” against democracy.
According to France 24, Youssef Bouzaker, the former head of the Supreme Judicial Council was among those sacked. Another prominent judge on the list was Bachir Akremi, whom Saied’s supporters accuse of being too close to the ”Ennahda” Party.
The president’s ‘’purge of the judiciary’’ comes as an attempt to remake the political system after consolidating one-man rule as stated by Reuters.
Tunisia’s political parties and the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) have rejected the president’s decisions. The UGTT announced this week a national strike on June 16, posing pressure on Saied’s power grab.
Tunisia has been in a deep political crisis since July 25, 2021, when Saied dismissed the government, suspended parliament and assumed executive authority. He later dissolved the elected parliament in March, setting aside the 2014 constitution.
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