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After five years Tunisian President Kais Saied after a suspended parliament and increased powers, the country remains deeply divided, struggling with economic collapse and political instability.
Saied’s followers continue to see what he did in July 2021 – when he suspended parliament and dismissed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi – as a necessary “correction” to save the country. Critics say that since then, government institutions have collapsed, promises have not been kept, and he has an unprecedented amount of power in his hands.
Speaking to Al Jazeera’s Waraa al-Khabar In the (Behind the News) program, political and economic experts debated the legacy of Saied’s five-year rule, painting a picture of an economy hampered by poor business performance, public policies, and a lack of clear vision.
Economy in free fall
Since Saied took almost total power five years ago, Tunisia’s economic indicators have fallen sharply.
Ridha Chkoundali, a professor of economics at the University of Tunisia, said that the country’s spending has dropped from 20 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) between 2015 and 2019 to 8 percent in 2023.
Chkoundali said the sharp decline was due to an environment that drives money, which is exacerbated by the increase in taxes, which have increased by five percent since 2015.
He also said that tax is no longer used to stimulate investment but only to generate income which hinders economic growth.
The crisis has had a profound effect on ordinary Tunisians. Food inflation has reached almost three times the rate of population growth, taking a toll on purchasing power. Meanwhile, unemployment has increased, especially among university graduates, which is causing many to leave the country for better economic opportunities abroad.
Mr. Mohamed Abbou, a former minister of state and former secretary general of the Democratic Current party, said the crisis started because of Saied’s rule, adding that the rule of law has been replaced by threats and intimidation.
“Tunisia has lost credibility,” Abbou said. “Everyone is afraid of the situation in Tunisia because there is no clarity… there is no stability in the law, taxes, or anything else.”
Abbou was particularly critical of Saied’s approach to the global economy, saying that the president had rejected an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to preserve public image. At the same time, he quietly implemented the IMF’s tough demands, such as a hiring freeze and a reduction in imports.
However, supporters of the current government say it is wrong to blame Saied’s officials for the financial problems that preceded his rule.
Political analyst Souhaib Mezrigui says the current situation is due to the lack of a clear economic or social vision over the past 10 years. He criticized the political group that has ruled Tunisia since the 2011 revolution.
Protesters and political prisoners
The financial freeze in Tunisia has become apparent palpable anger in the streets. In conjunction with the five-year anniversary, thousands of Tunisians gathered in Habib Bourguiba in the capital on Saturday, protesting the loss of life, the rolling water and power cuts, and the backsliding in democracy.
In line with the coalition of the opposition parties and the civil policy of “Nafas”, the crowds asked Saied to “leave” and revived the cry of the 2011 democracy: “The people want the fall of the government”.
The main focus of the protests was the release of political prisoners, who have filled Tunisian prisons since Saied began his crackdown on the opposition. Among the most famous prisoners are Rached Ghannouchithe 85-year-old former parliament speaker and Ennahdha leader, who has recently been sentenced to life in prison.
Ghannouchi’s health has taken a turn for the worse while in prison. He recently collapsed in Mornaguia prison, where temperatures reportedly reached 52 degrees Celsius (126 degrees Fahrenheit). Rights groups and families of detainees, such as opposition politician Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, have repeatedly warned about conditions inside the prison and the treatment of elderly prisoners.
Imed al-Khamiri, a spokesman for the Ennahdha party, told Al Jazeera that the detention of politicians and opposition leaders remains “a shame for Tunisia”.
US lawmakers want sanctions
Saied’s ascension to power has also drawn international criticism. At the event, US representative Joe Wilson made a scathing statement, accusing Saied of turning the Arab world’s only democracy into a “one-man regime”.
Wilson accused the Tunisian government of ramping up corruption, destroying opportunities for young people, and changing its alliances with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran, and Hezbollah.
Noting that the Saied government has detained US citizens, Wilson urged the US State Department to issue a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory to Tunisia.
“I will continue to work to pass the Tunisian Democracy Restoration Act to impose sanctions on Saied and his group,” Wilson said on television X, adding: “Democracy in Tunisia will win in the end. Crazy dictators don’t last long.”
