# Tunisia’s Saied holds referendum, critics fear for democracy
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-07-25
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Tunisians Vote on New Constitution Amid Criticism of
Meta Description: Critics fear President Kais Saied's new constitution will erase gains from the 2011 revolution, shifting power back to the presidency.
URL: https://financedigest.com/tunisias-saied-holds-referendum-critics-fear-for-democracyhtml

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By Tarek Amara and Angus McDowall

TUNIS (Reuters) -Tunisians voted on Monday on a new constitution which critics of President Kais Saied fear will dismantle the democratic gains of the 2011 revolution by handing him nearly total power.

The divided opposition urged a boycott, calling Saied’s moves a coup that risks flinging Tunisia back into the autocratic era from before the revolution and putting the final nail into the coffin of the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings.

The [electoral commission](https://www.financedigest.com/turnout-in-iraqs-election-reached-41-electoral-commission.html "Turnout in Iraq’s election reached 41% – electoral commission") said 13.6% of voters had taken part by 1430 GMT, nine and a half hours into the 16-hour voting period. However, with very hot weather meaning a possible surge in evening voting, it was not clear what the figure meant for the eventual turnout.

The new constitution shifts [power back](https://www.financedigest.com/back-to-black-germanys-coal-power-plan-hits-hurdles.html "Back to black? Germany’s coal power plan hits hurdles") to the presidency and away from parliament, which for years has been synonymous with political paralysis, and where an Islamist party, Ennahda, has been the biggest faction since the revolution.

Casting his vote, Saied hailed the referendum as the foundation of a new republic, a [year to the day](https://www.financedigest.com/explainer-international-womens-day-date-history-and-this-years-theme.html "Explainer-International Women’s Day: date, history and this year’s theme") after he ousted an elected parliament, established emergency rule and began governing by decree.

Western democracies that looked to Tunisia as the only success story of the Arab Spring have yet to comment on the proposed new constitution, although they have urged Tunis over the past [year to return](https://www.financedigest.com/heathrow-airport-says-return-to-pre-pandemic-demand-years-away.html "Heathrow Airport says return to pre-pandemic demand years away") to the democratic path.

“I’m frustrated by all of them. I’d rather enjoy this hot [day than go and vote,”](https://www.financedigest.com/35-days-after-the-brexit-vote-uk-bricks-mortar-are-far-from-crumbling.html "35 days after the Brexit vote, UK bricks & mortar are far from crumbling") said Samia, a woman sitting with her husband and teenage son on the beach at La Marsa near Tunis.

Others voiced [support for Saied](https://www.financedigest.com/natos-support-for-ukraine-is-unbreakable-spains-pm-sanchez-says.html "NATO’s support for Ukraine is unbreakable, Spain’s PM Sanchez says").

Casting his vote on Rue Marseilles in downtown Tunis, Illyes Moujahed said the former law professor was the only hope.

“I’m here to save Tunisia from collapse. To save it from years of corruption and failure,” said Moujahed, first in line.

But the atmosphere was muted in the run-up to the referendum, with only small crowds attending rallies for and against the constitution.

Standing outside a cafe in the capital, Samir Slimane said he was not interested in voting. “I have no hope of change. Kais [Saied will not change](https://www.financedigest.com/pelosi-praises-taiwan-says-asian-trip-wasnt-to-change-status-quo.html "Pelosi praises Taiwan, says Asian trip wasn’t to change status quo") anything. He only seeks to have all the powers,” he said.

INFIGHTING

Many Tunisians welcomed [Saied’s sudden seizure of power last summer as a corrective to years](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-to-avoid-recession-this-year-but-outlook-still-weak-bcc-says.html "UK to avoid recession this year but outlook still weak, BCC says") of political infighting and government failure by ruling factions. But he has done [little to address deepening economic](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-russians-feel-little-economic-pain-now-long-term-outlook-darkens.html "Analysis: Russians feel little economic pain now, long-term outlook darkens") hardship and Tunisia is seeking an IMF rescue package.

To restore Tunisia and establish discipline we need a strong man who uses a stick,” said Monzher Galaoui, a [middle aged man](https://www.financedigest.com/protecting-against-man-in-the-middle-attacks-with-dynamic-linking.html "Protecting against man in the middle attacks with dynamic linking") at a cafe near the polling station in the capital’s poor Ettadamon district.

Anaemic [support for his constitution could cause problems for Saied](https://www.financedigest.com/local-government-business-support-getting-worse-report-shows-as-70-of-uk-firms-say-its-not-good-enough.html "Local government business support getting worse, report shows, as 70% of UK firms say it’s not good enough"), who has not built broad political alliances, and encourage his foes to contest his rule, said Nadim Houry, executive director of the Arab Reform Initiative.

“A low turnout will mean he will hit turbulence, especially as Tunisia enters a summer of discontent over the economy.”

Critics of Saied already challenge the [vote’s legitimacy because the constitution](https://www.financedigest.com/ireland-to-vote-on-removing-outmoded-references-to-women-from-constitution.html "Ireland to vote on removing ‘outmoded’ references to women from constitution") was prepared without involving Tunisian political or civil society groups, and because there is no minimum level of participation to pass it.

His critics have also disputed the integrity of the vote after he unilaterally changed the electoral commission [board this year](https://www.financedigest.com/ericssons-board-rebuked-by-shareholders-at-agm-for-second-year-in-a-row.html "Ericsson’s board rebuked by shareholders at AGM for second year in a row").

Of the three parliamentary elections and two presidential elections since the revolution, the lowest turnout, of 41%, was in 2019 for the chamber dissolved by Saied.

[Economic decline since 2011 has left many Tunisians angry at the parties that have governed since the revolution and disillusioned with the political](https://www.financedigest.com/uae-plans-long-term-economic-ties-with-israel-despite-political-strains.html "UAE plans long-term economic ties with Israel despite political strains") system they ran.

To address economic privations, the government hopes to secure a $4 billion loan from the IMF, but faces stiff union opposition to the required reforms, [including cuts](https://www.financedigest.com/citi-pledges-to-cut-emissions-for-more-sectors-including-coal.html "Citi pledges to cut emissions for more sectors including coal") to fuel and food subsidies.

(Reporting by Tarek Amara and Angus McDowall; writing by Angus McDowall and Tom Perry; editing by Angus MacSwan and Mark Heinrich)


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