Tunisia swears in new defanged parliament

Tunisia on Monday inaugurated a new parliament largely stripped of its powers, after a vote that saw a paltry turnout amid boycotts following President Kais Saied’s July 2021 power grab.

The new assembly, elected in two rounds in December and January that saw a voter turnout of just over 11 percent, held its first session at the legislature’s traditional home in Bardo, a suburb of the capital Tunis.

State television broadcast the proceedings and only official media were permitted to cover the session, with representatives of Tunisia’s private press and foreign journalists denied access.

“What is happening is dangerous and reflects the authorities’ unjustified distrust of the media,” Amira Mohamed, deputy head of the SNJT journalists’ union, said.

The new parliament was elected after a new constitution was passed in a July 25 referendum last year.

The referendum was held exactly a year after Saied froze the previous legislature and dismissed Tunisia’s government, before assuming wide-ranging powers.

By concentrating power in the presidency and greatly reducing parliament’s influence and oversight, the new constitution marked an end to the parliament-led system put in place following the fall of former ruler Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.

Under the new constitution, it is almost impossible for parliament to hold the government to account, and the president cannot be impeached under any circumstances.

Ten lawmakers will be needed to propose bills, and those put forward by the president will be given priority.

The new assembly has 161 members but only 154 seats have so far been filled — with just 25 female representatives among them.

After taking an oath, assembly members must elect a speaker and two deputies.

Tunisia’s main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front, which boycotted the legislative elections, released a statement saying it would not recognize the new assembly.

It said the new parliament came as a result of a “putschist constitution and elections shunned by the overwhelming majority of voters.”

Ennahdha party also released a statement refusing to recognize the legislature, describing it as being “devoid of any legitimacy.”