The largest opposition coalition in Tunisia has demanded the resignation of President Kais Saied after fewer than 9 percent of eligible voters participated in legislative elections.
Nejib Chebbi, the leader of the National Salvation Front, described Saturday’s election as a “disaster” and called for mass demonstrations to demand early presidential elections.
The vote was boycotted by the vast majority of opposing parties.
They accuse Mr. Saied of eroding the democratic advancements made since the 2011 revolt, which he disputes.
After dismissing the prime minister and suspending parliament in July 2021, Mr. Saied pushed through a constitution enshrining his one-man rule a year later, despite opposition parties boycotting the vote.
The new constitution superseded one established shortly after Tunisia’s fall of late dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali during the Arab Spring in 2011. It granted the head of state complete executive power and command of the military.
Mr. Saied, 64, argues that such authority is required to stop the cycle of political gridlock and economic decline.
His supporters concur, stating that the impoverished North African nation requires a strong leader to combat corruption and other serious obstacles to the country’s progress.
Election officials in Tunisia said late Saturday that 8.8% of the roughly nine million eligible voters participated in the parliamentary elections.
Shortly thereafter, Mr. Chebbi stated, “What happened today is an earthquake. From now on, we consider Saied to be an illegitimate president, and we demand that he resign in the wake of this debacle.”
He told the AFP news agency that Mr. Saied should quit government “immediately,” citing the survey as evidence of “vast popular rejection” of his manner of governance.
A coalition of political groups, the National Salvation Front, also called for huge rallies and sit-ins.
President Saied has not yet made any public statements regarding this matter.
The Tunisian insurrection of 11 years ago is frequently cited as the single triumph of the Arab Spring revolts around the region, although it has not led to economic or political stability.
