Tunisian President Threatens to Reject New Cabinet Reshuffle

Tunisian lawmakers are waiting for the approval of President Kais Saied on the new cabinet reshuffle after he threatened to block the swearing-in of some new ministers, a move that could aggravate animosities that have paralyzed political action.

The parliament’s speaker sent a letter to the president to inform him of the results, stating that the cabinet won a confidence vote.

Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi announced the sweeping reshuffle, which affects 11 ministries including the interior, justice, and health portfolios, in mid-January.

In a new sign of growing tensions between Mechichi and Saied, the president criticized the move and said he was not consulted, stressing that the reshuffle is unconstitutional.

“The Presidency of the Republic is not a mailbox that signs decrees and organizes oath-taking ceremonies,” he told a security council meeting.

He also expressed reservations about some of the new ministers who are “involved in a corruption case” or suspected of having conflicts of interest.

Constitutional Law Professor expert Mona Karim said the new ministers must take the oath before the President of the Republic, stressing that he has no right to reject this measure.

Ayyad Ellloumi, a Heart of Tunisia lawmaker, threatened to resort to the judiciary to force the president to accept the swearing-in of the new ministers, noting that this step is “just a formality.”

Meanwhile, I-Watch, the Tunisian arm of anti-corruption group Transparency International, sent a letter to lawmakers urging them not to approve four of the proposed ministers, however it did not receive a response.

It named Hadi Khairi, proposed Minister of Health, Sofiane Ben Tounes, proposed Minister of Energy, Youssef Fnira, proposed Minister of Vocational Training and Youssef Zouaghi, proposed Minister of Justice.

Separately, the Soumoud Collective (a civil society group) has called for Mechichi’s resignation after a young protester, hit by a tear gas canister during clashes last week, died in hospital.

All democratic, civil and political forces are invited to further engage in the January 2021 uprising and support the popular protest movement, Hossam el-Hammi, the general coordinator of Soumoud Collective, told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“These popular protests aim to change the political system, which has wrought havoc on the country.”

He accused the government of confiscating people’s right to peaceful protest, violating articles 19 and 37 of Tunisia’s constitution.