About 2,000 demonstrators gathered on the streets of Tunisia this Saturday to protest the constitutional referendum announced by President Kais Said in an apparent bid to tighten his grip on national politics. The rally reflected ongoing frustrations with governance and the direction of the country as it prepares to vote on proposed constitutional changes that could redefine executive power and parliamentary oversight.
The protest was led by Abir Musi, the head of the Free Constitution Party, who publicly challenged the president’s authority and called for a broader, more inclusive process. Musi’s actions marked a continued pushback against what opponents view as a consolidation of power through presidential decrees rather than through legislative debate and consensus. Since July, observers say, the president has moved to dissolve Parliament and govern by decree, a move that opponents have described as a self-inflicted constitutional crisis aimed at eroding checks and balances.
In remarks captured by Mosaique FM, Musi criticized what he termed illegal attempts to alter the Magna Carta and condemned the overreach he attributes to election officials named by the presidency. The statements framed the referendum as part of a larger pattern of political maneuvering that sidelined opposition voices and complicated the country’s democratic trajectory. Musi emphasized the need for transparent procedures and insisted that changes to the fundamental charter must emerge from a broad-based political dialogue rather than unilateral action.
The leader’s attack extended to what she described as exclusionary practices within the party and the broader constitutional preparation process for the referendum. With the vote scheduled for June 25 in principle, critics argued that the process had already faced repeated hurdles and delays, raising questions about legitimacy and public engagement. The campaign period has been marked by vehement debates, street demonstrations, and a polarized media environment, all of which have intensified as the referendum date approaches. Experts and observers note that the outcome could have lasting implications for Tunisia’s constitutional framework and the balance of power among the branches of government, especially if the process continues to be framed around one-man governance rather than a pluralistic approach that includes multiple political factions and civil society voices.