Tunisian President Kais Saied asserted the legitimacy of the measures he took to protect the state.
In a statement released by the Tunisian presidency, Saied told a US Senate delegation that the measures he took were in full respect of the constitution and reflected a “broad popular will” in the country, in contrast to “false allegations.”
The delegation included Senators Chris Murphy and Jon Ossoff.
Saied expressed the same position during his meeting with a US delegation headed by Assistant National Security Adviser Jonathan Viner on August 13.
He told the delegation that the measure he took in July were not a coup, as some promote, because a coup suggests a lack of legitimacy, adding that a constitutional law that does not achieve freedom can’t be applied.
Saied dismissed on July 25 his prime minister, froze parliament, and assumed executive authority.
He asked the delegation to listen to the people who are now relieved, warning that some resort to foreign parties to distort Tunisia’s image and its president.
“Tunisia is a sovereign country, and sovereignty belongs to the Tunisian people.”
Saied touched on the reasons that prompted him to announce the exceptional measures per Article 80 of the Constitution.
“I used a constitutional text to preserve the Tunisian state,” said the president, noting that the country was going through a health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The US delegation did not issue any statement about its meetings with Saied and with other representatives of political parties, including the Ennahda Movement.
Observers believe that the US delegation will review the situation in Tunisia carefully before issuing any statement.
In August, Saied received an official US delegation headed by Finer, who carried a written message from President Joe Biden.
The message reaffirmed Biden’s support and that of his administration for the Tunisian people and urged a swift return to the path of Tunisia’s parliamentary democracy.
He discussed with Saied the urgent need to appoint a prime minister who would form a capable government able to address the immediate economic and health crises facing Tunisia.
“Empowering a new government to stabilize the economy will also create space for an inclusive dialogue about proposed constitutional and electoral reforms,” the statement added.
