The President of the Republic, Kais Saied, announced this evening, Sunday 25 July 2021, the activation of Chapter 80 of the Constitution, noting that he took this decision after consulting with the heads of government and the Assembly of People’s Representatives.
Saied said during a meeting with security and military leaders that he had taken a number of decisions, which he said would be implemented immediately.
He highlighted that the first decision is to freeze all the powers of the House of Representatives, indicating that the constitution forbids its dissolution.
He pointed out that the second decision is to lift the immunity of all deputies and that the third decision is the presidency of the Public Prosecution will move within the framework of the law, and indicated in a fourth decision, which is the dismissal of Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and the presidency of the executive authority and the formation of a government that he chooses who will head it.
What does chapter 80 say?
Article 80 of the Tunisian Constitution stipulates the following: “The President of the Republic, in the event of an imminent danger threatening the entity of the nation, the security of the country, or its independence, with which it is impossible for the normal functioning of the state’s wheels, to take the measures necessitated by this exceptional situation, after consulting the Head of Government and the Speaker of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, inform the President of the Constitutional Court, and announce the measures in a statement to the people.
These measures must aim to ensure the return to the normal functioning of the state’s wheels as soon as possible, and the Assembly of the People’s Representatives is considered to be in permanent session throughout this period.
In this case, the President of the Republic may not dissolve the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, nor may a motion of censure against the government be submitted.
Thirty days after the entry into force of these measures, and at any time thereafter, the Constitutional Court, at the request of the Speaker of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People or thirty of its members, is entrusted with a decision on the continuation of the exceptional situation or not. The court declares its decision publicly within a maximum period of fifteen days, and the work of such measures shall be terminated when the reasons for them cease to exist. The President of the Republic shall direct a statement to the people.”
