TUNIS: Tunisia’s anti-corruption authority aired photographs dated on Thursday of ex-prime minister Hichem Mechichi declaring his properties at the agency’s headquarters, his first public appearance since his July 25 dismissal by President Kais Saied.
Saied invoked a national emergency in taking executive control of the government and freezing parliament in a move that was welcomed by protesters disgruntled over years of disorder and stagnation but branded a coup by his political opponents.
The anti-corruption authority’s photos of Mechichi, posted on its website, appeared to dispel unconfirmed reports that he was under house arrest.
Meanwhile, Tunisia’s moderate Ennahda signalled a major shift in the country’s political crisis on Wednesday as its leader said the president’s seizure of governing powers should be turned into “a stage of the democratic transition”.
Rached Ghannouchi, who is a parliament speaker, had previously led the opposition to President Kais Saied’s invocation of emergency powers to freeze parliament and sack the prime minister, moves he repeatedly labelled a coup.
However, in a statement Ennahda posted on Facebook on Wednesday he softened his language, saying instead that Saied’s intervention should be an opportunity for reform.
After years of mounting public anger at the main political parties including Ennahda over economic stagnation, corruption and political paralysis, Saied’s sudden announcement on July 25 appeared highly popular.
Within Ennahda, Ghannouchi’s response to it has drawn growing concern and some senior figures as well as youth members have pushed for their veteran leader to step down.
The party’s highest body, the Choura Council, was holding a meeting on Wednesday evening that had been postponed at short notice on Saturday because of internal disputes. — Reuters
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
