Strife Rises in Tunisia as Democracy Erodes, Economic Hardship Grows
TUNIS, Tunisia—A new constitution that would consolidate the power of Tunisian President Kais Saied is generating dissent among Tunisians who are angry at what they describe as his increasingly autocratic rule and who are grappling with rising food prices and economic hardship.
On Thursday, Mr. Saied presented a draft version of a new constitution that would grant him the ability to extend his tenure beyond the current limit of two presidential terms. It would also increase the powers of the presidency and curtail those of the parliament, which, under the existing constitution, check the executive’s power.
