Turkey 'deeply concerned' over ousting of PM in Tunisia
Police dispersed people who gathered in front of the parliament after the president's decisions. (Photos: AA)
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and several senior government officials have condemned the ousting of Tunisia's president for seizing complete executive power after sacking the prime minister and suspending the parliament.
President Kais Saied dismissed the government of Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi late Sunday (July 25), froze parliament and stated that he would assume the executive authority with the assistance of a new prime minister.
In his speech, Saied said he will lift the immunity of all members of parliament and assume the role of a public prosecutor. He said he has taken the decision after consulting Mechichi and Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi.
In a written statement yesterday, the Foreign Ministry said, "We are deeply concerned about the suspension of the Assembly which represents the will of the people."
"The preservation of the exceptional position and democratic achievements of Tunisia which constitutes an exemplary success story in the region in terms of the democratic process carried out in accordance with the expectations of the people is of great importance for Tunisia as well as for the region," it said.
"In this regard, we hope that democratic legitimacy will be swiftly reinstated within the framework of the provisions of the Tunisian constitution."
Several government officials reacted to the developments on Twitter. Vice President Fuat Oktay said that Turkey will support democracy against the "worrisome" developments in Tunisia.
Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın wrote, "We condemn initiatives that lack constitutional legitimacy and public support. We believe that Tunisian democracy will emerge stronger from this period."
Parliamentary Speaker Mustafa Şentop and the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) Spokesperson Ömer Çelik described the developments as a coup and said Turkey stands by the people of Tunisia.
People on the streets demanding the resignation of the government hours before the president's announcement.
Tunisia has seen popular protests with attacks reported on headquarters and buildings of Ghannouchi's Ennahda party, which has good relations with the AKP.
Since January, the country has been in a political deadlock amid a dispute between Saied and Mechichi over a government reshuffle that the former rejected.
The country is also facing an economic crisis and a surge in coronavirus infections amid warnings of a possible collapse of the health system. (PT/VK)