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Tunisia’s Governmental Crisis

All political aspects have come through different systematic changes to provide a proper quality of life. However, some countries have a difficult time trying to adjust the ongoing system that was input from the past such as the economic stance that was given over the current COVID-19 pandemic. Although it is a given factor, there are daily struggles that people have suffered due to the turmoil a leader has failed to do such as the recent Tunisia’s crisis within their democracy.


Government Stance

Tunisia is located on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa where it’s government is a representative democracy and a republic. The president is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of the government. Additionally, the prime minister also serves within an unicameral parliament and the civil law court system. Thus, there has been a growing number of legalized political parties in the country ever since the revolution of 2011. As of now, over 100 legal parties have existed including the ones under the regime.

Tunisia has become the first Mediterranean country to sign with the European Union (EU) for an Association Agreement for the creation of a free-trade area. The EU has been supportive towards the people of Tunisia and has helped them transition towards a better democracy while promoting social justice. The partnership between the two has lead to greater assistance in terms of trade, financial assistance, and better access to education. It has been known that the government has been exchanging good deeds among each other. As for other countries, there have been allies that Tunisia ties up with such as Japan under the Non-NATO ally agreement.



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The government of Tunisia is a representative democracy where elected representatives vote on the policy initiatives implemented. In addition, there would be a legislative and judiciary branch as it consists the Assembly of Representatives consists of almost 30% of women in the office. The legal system follows upon the French civil law as the judicial review would take place via the Supreme Court. Recently, there was a presidential election that was held on September 15, 2019. President Kais Saied won the election with the overwhelming support that came particularly from the revolutionaries. But five months into his term, he had already failed to connect with the public as his accomplishments were few to be given including how the economy is going through over the year after.


Current Crisis

President Saied has come upon a few months into his term but has already broken some promises when holding the economy together. The new government’s responsibility was to be persistent in terms of the socioeconomic obstacles coming in that had happened during

the revolution. However, from July 2021, Tunisia has been facing one of the biggest crises within their government as the President ousted the democracy in terms of freeing the activities that were generated from the parliament.

The president has invoked the constitution where they had dismissed the Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and to free the parliament for thirty days. Around the following day, there were some celebrations that have sparked in support for the president’s decision whereas protests coming from the certain political parties have gone against the government to display their anger over the political dysfunction that has been occurring within the public. Such parties such as the Islamist Ennahda, Heart of Tunisia, and Karama have been accusing the president of a coup. Some leaders from these parties have spoken up against his move and claimed it as an “assault” towards democracy.

After the statements by the heads of these parties, military has been stationed outside the parliament and the government palace where they would stop the members of the parliament and state workers from entering the building including media stations. In addition, President Saied has reinforced a law where it would ban public gatherings from happening and denied accusations that were initiated by them. There have been numerous people supporting his statement and have been backing up against him. However, certain media stations such as Al Jazeera have stated that Tunisian security forces have stormed into its bureau and have expelled their staff. The network’s chief Lutfi Hajji has said that about twenty security forces have stormed the building with no legal documents to show their right to enter.


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Aside from the exchange opposition that was happening between people of different sides, there has been an impact towards the economy where COVID-19 has severely striked the stance of its country. The economy has shrunk about 8% where Tunisia has one of the highest cases of COVID-19 death rate. The country’s hard-currency bonds have been affected where Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi has stated that the president dragged the country into chaos. Even though the president’s responsibility was to manage the foreign affairs and the military, he has assigned the army to be in charge of the pandemic response of the country. This impact could lead the citizens of the country to end the subsidies given by the government or having to cut off the public sector jobs which would be the dead end of the government. It has been known that the county will lack from the strategy to develop a structured government seeing that the president has raised alarm for blocking the formation in the constitutional court and stripping off control of the vaccine rollout. Much of the crisis that the country is experiencing is due to the ongoing political disputes between the parliamentary members and the leader.


How Can We Help

In order to recognize the situation at hand, there must be some initiatives to take a stand among assisting the needs that the population would need in support for the crisis undergoing in the country. There are certain organizations and initiatives that are lending their helping hand to support assistance especially towards the health system of Tunisia after the government and economic collapse. Some countries have stepped in to provide donations to this cause specifically supplying doses for the country. China, UAE, and Algeria have given almost 800,000 COVID-19 vaccinations in support of their needs. As for our role as civilians, we could spread awareness to this matter or volunteer among the additional aid provided by the UN Children’s Fund UNICEF to cooperate with families who have been affected by the impact of COVID-19. Donations are also being sought according to Dr. Cyrine Chedly for providing care for ICU beds, etc. If donating couldn’t be an option, campaigns could be held regarding this issue such as petitions during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis Tunisians would need:

Thus, these initiatives could be recognized and spread upon the media to help those who are affected by the limited support coming from Tunisia’s government.


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