Tunisia opposition groups call for counter-protests against president Kais Saied
Tunisia opposition groups call for counter-protests against president Kais Saied
Tunisian opposition groups including the newly-formed National Salvation Front are urging demonstrators to rally against President Kais Saied on Sunday, in response to his latest power-grabbing moves.
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Tunisians have regularly rallied against Kais Saied, whose seizure of powers have been labelled as a 'coup' by critics [Getty]
Ìýopposition activists are calling forÌýralliesÌýagainst , on SundayÌýin the capital Tunis, reported Arabi 21.
The "Citizens Against the Coup"Ìýand the newly-established Ìýgroups are planning to stage the demonstrationsÌýin protest of Saied’s continuedÌý, which has plunged Tunisia into a deep .
This is the first move of its kindÌýby the National Salvation Front, formed last month with the stated aim ofÌý"saving"Ìýthe country from Saied’s ruleÌýand restoring legitimacy and democracy, according to founder Ahmed Nejib Chebbi.
Chebbi is a veteran left-wing politician who opposed previous ruler , who was ousted during the Tunisian revolution in 2011.
The National Salvation Front is formed of five political parties - including the party - and five civil society groups involving independent political figures.
The Front is calling for the holding of a national dialogue, new legislative and presidential elections, and the formationÌýof a salvation government.
A member of the Front’s committee, senior Ennahda memberÌýMohamed El Qoumani, toldÌýArabi 21 that the organisation "did not appear out of nowhere, but after consultations between various parties since the coup nine months ago. The appreciates this initiative, and will work to make it a success".
Sunday's plannedÌýdemonstration will contrast starkly withÌýlast Sunday’s rally , where protesters demandedÌýthe prosecution of the "corrupt" politicians thatÌýSaied has blamed for his country's recent ills.
³§²¹¾±±ð»åÌý in July last year, in what was widely branded a coup.ÌýHe hasÌýseized a wide range of powers since.
Last month, the presidentÌý granting him the right to appoint the president and members of the country’s new electoral commission.
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