Tunisian President Kais Saied, who had not been seen in public since March 22, reappeared in a video of his services early Monday evening and denied any power vacuum. A few hours earlier, the leader of the National Salvation Front (FSN, the main opposition coalition) had called on the government to reveal the reasons for the president’s “absence”, claiming to have been informed that he had had “problems of health “.
The DSF “was informed from day one that President Saïed was suffering from health problems, but we did not react, believing that anyone could have a temporary health problem”, said DSF President Ahmed. Néjib Chebbi, Monday, April 3, during a press conference in Tunis. In the event of a temporary power vacuum, it is up to the head of government Najla Bouden to run the affairs of the country as stipulated in the Constitution, said Néjib Chebbi. But in the event of a permanent vacancy, such as in the event of a death or serious illness preventing the country from being ruled, Tunisia would face a “great catastrophe” due to a legislative vacuum, he said.
Under the terms of the new Constitution promulgated in the summer of 2022 by Kaïs Saïed, it is the President of the Constitutional Court who must replace the Head of State until a new presidential election is held. However, the Constitutional Court has not yet been set up.
Kaïs Saïed, 65, democratically elected to the presidency in 2019, has concentrated all powers since July 25, 2021, when he dismissed his Prime Minister and froze Parliament. Despite the installation of a new parliament in March – largely stripped of his previous prerogatives – the president continues to rule the country by decree.
