Tunisia’s President Declares Will Rule by Decree

Tunisia’s president announced that he will rule by decree, which allows him to run the country while suspending part of the country’s constitution. Kais Saied issued the decree in the country’s official gazette and laid out the measure in a series of tweets. The announcement on Wednesday comes two months after Saied fired the government and suspended parliament, and assumed executive authority in a move his critics have called a coup.

Kais’ decree states that he will be “extending the freezing of parliamentary powers and the lifting of the parliamentary immunity, and putting an end to the salaries and privileges granted to the Parliament members and speaker.” In addition, “The preamble of the Constitution, Chapters 1 and 2, and all other provisions not in conflict with the exceptional measures, are still in force.”

The decree also states that Saied will move to change the political system. “The provisional Commission to review the constitutionality of draft laws is abolished. And the President will prepare draft amendments on political reforms with the assistance of a committee to be set up by presidential decree,” the Tunisian Presidency tweeted.

Tunisia’s 2011 revolution was one of the triggers of the Arab Spring.