Thousands march in Tunis to mark five years of Saied’s emergency rule
Demonstrators gather on Habib Bourguiba Avenue to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the suspension of parliament, demanding an end to what critics describe as an executive power grab.
Thousands of demonstrators marched through central Tunis on Saturday to demand the resignation of President Kais Saied, marking the fifth anniversary of his declaration of a national emergency and the suspension of parliament. The protest, held along Habib Bourguiba Avenue, was organised by the Nafas umbrella initiative, a coalition uniting opposition parties and independent political figures.
The gathering was explicitly timed to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the constitutional changes that consolidated executive power in the hands of the presidency. Critics and opposition groups have widely characterised the initial suspension of parliament as a power grab, arguing that the move dismantled democratic checks and balances. Organisers cited worsening living conditions and a trajectory of democratic backsliding as primary drivers for the demonstration.
President Saied’s decision to declare a national emergency five years ago effectively suspended the legislative branch, allowing for the rapid restructuring of the country’s governance framework. The current unrest reflects ongoing tensions regarding the concentration of authority and the deteriorating economic landscape under his administration. While precise participant numbers were not provided, the scale of the march was described as involving thousands of people.
The Nafas initiative has positioned itself as a broad-based front against the current administration, bringing together diverse political factions united by their opposition to Saied’s rule. The coalition’s demands focus squarely on the president’s removal, linking the call for resignation to broader grievances about the state of the nation’s institutions and the daily hardships faced by citizens.
This demonstration underscores the persistent political instability in Tunisia since the emergency measures were enacted. As the country marks five years of this new political reality, the clash between the government’s consolidated authority and the opposition’s calls for a return to previous constitutional norms remains a central feature of the national discourse.
