Tunisia : Millions To Vote A New Constitution

Tunisians of all walks of life are going to the polls today, July 25, 2022 to vote a new constitution. For the past few months, President Kais Saied, had created a committee that has been working on the new constitutional draft which he says is aimed at consolidating the country’s democratic process. A few days ago, a draft was published in the country’s official gazette. It provides a clear vision of the direction Saied wants Tunisia to take. The draft clearly strengthens the powers of the President, and weakens institutions that would otherwise provide a balance of executive powers. 
Prior to the draft constitution, President Saied had declared a state of emergency in July 2021, froze the elected Parliament and dismissed the sitting Prime Minister, Hichem Mechichi. In February, Saied also dissolved Tunisia's Supreme Judicial Council, the national body that is supposed to ensure judicial independence. In March, he dissolved the suspended Parliament altogether and at the beginning of June, dismissed 57 judges and prosecutors. Defending the measures, President Saied said, the move was necessary to “save the country” from political and economic crisis. But several organizations, including the powerful UGTT central trade union, have deplored the absence of a public dialogue in preparing the new constitution that they have dubbed “the C...