The following is the text of President Kais Saied’s speech, on the evening of Sunday, July 25, 2021, which included a set of historic decisions.
“God willed, destiny willed and history willed! On this day, we celebrate the anniversary of the proclamation of the republic. It obliged us to take a number of exceptional measures required by the situation in Tunisia. You will undoubtedly notice that many public facilities are collapsing, and there are burning and looting operations, and there are those who are now preparing to pay money in some neighborhoods for the internal fighting. The responsibility that we bear and that you bear with me requires us, pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution, to take measures required by this situation to save Tunisia, to save the Tunisian state and to save Tunisian society.
We are going through the most delicate moments in the history of Tunisia, rather the most dangerous moments, and we cannot allow anyone to tamper with the state and its provisions, to tamper with lives and money, and to act in the Tunisian state as if it were his private property.
After consulting, pursuant to Article 80 of the Constitution, with the Prime Minister and the Speaker of Parliament, a number of decisions were taken that will be implemented immediately:
The first decision I took, which I was supposed to take months ago, is related to what is happening in Parliament. The first decision is to freeze all the powers of the House of Representatives. The constitution does not allow its dissolution, but it does not prevent the freezing of its entire works.
The second decision: Lifting the immunity of all members of Parliament and whoever is related to a case, I will take over, among the decisions taken by the Presidency of the Public Prosecution to act within the framework of the law, not to remain silent about crimes committed against Tunisia, and a number of files are hidden in the midst of the files of the Ministry of Justice or in Parliament files.
The third decision is that the head of state assumes the executive authority with the help of a government headed by the head of government and appointed by the president of the republic.
We are here to take these decisions and a number of other decisions will be issued in the form of decrees as stipulated in the constitution until social peace returns to Tunisia, until we save the state and until we save society.
There is a text that will be issued shortly and will be implemented immediately: Relieving the prime minister and inviting another person to take over for the duration of these measures that must be taken.
The head of government runs the government and is accountable to the President of the Republic. The President of the Republic is the one who appoints the members of the government on the proposal of the head of the government.
The Prime Minister heads the Council of Ministers if the Head of State calls him to do so, because the Council of Ministers is chaired by the President of the Republic.
Therefore, this is not a suspension of the constitution and is not a departure from constitutional legitimacy. We work within the framework of the law, but if the law turns into a tool for settling accounts and if the law turns into a tool for empowering thieves who looted state funds and the money of the impoverished people. If these texts are in this form, then these laws do not express the will of the people, but rather they are tools to rob the will of the people.
Here we bear our responsibility before God, before the people, and before history. And I warn many who are trying to infiltrate or resort to arms, we will never be silent about anyone who insults the state and its symbols. Whoever fires a single bullet, our armed and security forces will confront him with a barrage of bullets that is uncountable.
We did not want to resort to these measures, even though the constitutional conditions were met.
We did not want to resort to it because we dealt with honesty, sincerity and honesty.
On the other hand, unfortunately, there are many who are marked by hypocrisy, treachery, and the robbery of the rights of the Tunisian people.
The Tunisian people today continue their revolution in the light of legitimacy. We will work to apply the law to everyone on an equal footing, and no one has any preference over another, neither in his wealth nor in his position. All people are equal before the law. What I am saying now is within the scope of the law and I cannot stand silent and observe what is happening. Rather, I must bear the responsibility, and I have shouldered it.
I have to live up to the people’s expectations. Either you are with the people or you are on the opposite side, against them. There are other measures that will be taken according to the development of the situation.
We don’t want blood to spill, and I warn those who prepare themselves this night and distribute money in some neighborhoods for burning and looting that the law is above everyone, and it will apply to them.”
Translated by Ghada Dhaouadi & BM jdd
