Tunisians resume protests against president ahead of October election
Hundreds of Tunisians protested on Sunday against President Kais Saied, accusing him of deepening authoritarian rule and stifling political competition two weeks before a presidential election.
Amid a heavy police presence, protesters for a second week marched along Tunis' main avenue, a focal point of 2011 "Arab Spring" revolution, chanting slogans including "The people want the fall of the regime" and "Out with dictator Saied".
The protest came after lawmakers proposed a bill to strip the administrative court of its authority to adjudicate electoral disputes, a move that the opposition says would discredit the 6 October election, and pave the way for Saied to secure a second term.
"He committed a robbery and seized all the powers!" a Tunisian woman who works as a civil servant told RFI. "Kais Saied does not believe in any partner - whether it comes from the people, the parties, civil society or the opposition. He thinks he is a prophet on Earth!"
Some protesters also recounted the difficulties they encountered in participating in the demonstration.
"It was not easy to get to the place of the gathering," a 60 year old woman told RFI, asking for anonymity. "The police made us take detours: 'Go this way, go that way, stop'..."
"Kais, oh dictator, your turn will come," others chanted.
This new series of protests follows a first demonstration last weekend.
Two weeks before the election, NGOs and parties still active in the country are promising to take to the streets again to protest against what they call the return of dictatorship.
(with Reuters)
Read more on RFI English
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