Tunisia: Kaïs Saïed dissolves the Superior Council of the Judiciary, which he considers biased

Published on : 02/06/2022 – 06:56

“The CSM (Superior Council of the Judiciary) is a thing of the past from this moment,” Tunisia’s President Kaïs Saïed said on Sunday (February 6th) in a video released overnight where he is seen chatting with ministers.

He also accuses this independent constitutional body of corruption and of having slowed down procedures, including investigations into the assassinations of left-wing activists in 2013.

According to observers, he is thus targeting the Ennahda party, which has controlled parliament and the various governments since the 2011 revolution and the fall of dictator Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

Kais Saied has concentrated all power since July 25, when he dismissed his Prime Minister and froze parliament, a decision described as a coup by Ennahda and other opponents. It has since appointed a government but takes its decisions by decree. In mid-December, he announced a referendum this summer to reform the Constitution and legislative elections in December.

The “July 25 movement”, which brings together its supporters, called on Saturday Kaïs Saïed to dissolve the CSM to “purge” the judiciary of “corrupt magistrates”. The president assured “work on a provisional decree” to reorganize the CSM. A few weeks ago, he had already withdrawn a certain number of advantages from the members of the CSM.

“Unfortunately in this country, some judges in the courts have manipulated the Chokri Belaid file”, denounced Kaïs Saïed, about a left-wing leader killed by three bullets outside his home on February 6, 2013.

A major demonstration is planned for Sunday in Tunis to commemorate the assassination of this activist and that of Mohamed Brahmi, killed in similar circumstances on July 25, 2013.

“This is not the first trial where they have tried to hide the truth for years,” added Kais Saïed.

“In this council, positions and appointments are sold and made according to affiliations”, affirmed the Head of State, adding: “You cannot imagine the money that certain judges have been able to receive, billions and Billions”.

For him, “the place of the judges (of the CSM) is not where they are but on the dock”.

With AFP