Opposition in Tunesien mobilisiert gegen Präsidenten

Gegen die zunehmend diktatorischen Züge des tunesischen Präsidenten organisiert sich sich der Widerstand:

A veteran Tunisian opposition figure announced Tuesday the creation of a new alliance to "save" the country from deep crisis following President Kais Saied's power grab last year.

Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, 78, a prominent left-wing politician who opposed dictator Zine el Abidine Ben Ali's rule, said the new National Salvation Front aimed to unite political forces, re-establish constitutional and democratic processes and guarantee freedoms and rights in the country.

"We want a return to legitimacy and democracy," he told a news conference in the capital Tunisia.

Saied -- a former law professor elected in 2019 amid public anger against the political class -- on July 25 last year sacked the government, suspended parliament and seized wide-ranging powers.

He later gave himself powers to rule and legislate by decree and seized control over the judiciary.

He dissolved parliament last month, dealing another blow to the political system put in place after the North African country's 2011 revolution.

Chebbi opposes Saied's moves and describes them as a "coup".

The new alliance comprises five political parties including Saied's nemesis the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, along with five civil society groups involving independent political figures.