Tunisians vote to expand president’s powers
Tunisians voted to drastically expand the president’s powers and critics warn the referendum could usher in a dictatorship.
TUNIS, Tunisia —A referendum on a new constitution that grants Tunisia’s president far-reaching powers passed overwhelmingly, according to results released by Tunisia’s election commission Tuesday night, delivering a stinging rebuke of the country’s post-revolutionary order and driving fears of a return to autocracy.
According to the Independent High Authority of Elections (ISIE), which President Kais Saied took control of in April, 94.6% of Tunisian voters on Monday endorsed the constitution put forward by the president. Turnout for the vote was low, however, with just over 30% of people participating compared to more than 55% in the last presidential election, signaling waning enthusiasm for the reforms at a time of growing economic distress, and dealing a blow to Saied’s efforts to secure legitimacy for the project.
The president’s supporters began claiming victory late Monday night and Saied joined the celebration, declaring the beginning of a “new phase” and vowing to hold accountable those who have “committed crimes against the country.”
The new constitution awards Tunisia’s head of state near-total control of the government and judiciary and eliminates most checks on his power, establishing a system critics say is tantamount to the dictatorship of longtime ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
