The opposition and non-governmental organizations fear the North African country will return to an authoritarian system as a result of the constitutional changes. Both the Islamist Ennahda party and the secular PDL party had called for a boycott of Monday’s referendum, calling it an “illegal process” without consultation.
According to the new constitution, the president can in future appoint and dismiss the head of government and the ministers without parliamentary participation. He could introduce legislative texts in Parliament that would take precedence over other drafts. Parliament’s position would be significantly weakened. The new constitution does not provide for the removal of the President.
The lawyer Sadok Belaïd, whom President Saïed had entrusted with drafting the constitution, distanced himself from the final version. He declared that it could “open the way to a dictatorial regime”.
Saïed was elected at the end of 2019. A year ago, he ousted the government and parliament, citing emergency laws.