A meeting held between Tunisian President Kais Saied and Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi on Thursday has sparked criticism about “tense ties” between them.
The president has recently revealed serious differences on appointments of high-ranking officials linked to the former regime.
Saied rejected the appointments made by the PM, saying he should have garnered political consensus on the names of the officials.
Figures whom the people revolted against should not return to power, he said, especially that they remain under judicial investigation.
However, according to observers, Saied overstepped his constitutional powers by interfering in the authorities granted to the prime minister, namely the right to appoint his advisers without the president’s consent.
Ayad Loumi, a Heart of Tunisia official, slammed Saied’s comments on the appointments as “unacceptable,” and rejected to deprive the country from competent figures.
Tunisia’s National People's Movement accused Mechichi of turning the cabinet of experts into a government of politicians.
The appointment of new advisors at the office of the prime minister was a negative indicator, it said.
Haikal al-Makki, a member of the National People's Movement, expressed objection to the appointments, deeming them as ethically and politically unacceptable.
