The 2021 Tunisian self-coup took place on 25 July 2021, when Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed the government of Hichem Mechichi, suspended the Assembly of the Representatives of the People and revoked the immunity of its members. Described as a self-coup, the move came after a period of political instability marked by a series of protests against the Ennahda-backed government and the collapse of the Tunisian healthcare system amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The day after the self-coup, Saied imposed a month-long curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. After the 30-day period expired, Saied extended the period of his measures "until further notice". In October, Najla Bouden was appointed to head a new government, making her the first female prime minister both in Tunisia and the Arab world. In July 2022, a new constitution expanding the president's powers was adopted after a referendum boycotted by over two-thirds of voters, paving the way for parliamentary elections in December 2022 and January 2023 which were also boycotted by a large sector of the population.
Background
Saied-Mechichi / Parliament deadlock
In September 2020, the government of Hichem Mechichi was formed. The government exclusively consisted of independent technocrats and was supported, although "grudgingly", by the Ennahda party, the biggest parliamentary bloc led by Speaker Rached Ghannouchi.
In January 2021, Mechichi proposed a cabinet reshuffle which was approved by parliament, but president Kais Saied rejected the reshuffle, claiming that the proposed ministers of health, energy, employment and sports have conflicts of interest.
Saied and Mechichi also differed on their interpretations of the constitutional authorities of the president and prime minister, primarily the amount of influence the president is given on the government's operation. Saied was also in a stalemate with the country's legislative body, the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, on their respective constitutional powers. Normally, such disagreements would be resolved by the constitutional court, but the court's members have not been appointed yet.
Saied demanded that Mechichi resign in order for dialogue to take place, but the latter refused to step down, stating that he was "responsible for salvaging a country gripped by political and economic woes".
COVID-19 and protests against Ennahda
The standoff between the president and prime minister paralysed the government, contributing to the state's poor response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 8 July 2021, the Health Ministry said that the country's health system has "collapsed under the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic".
Protests spread across the country against economic mismanagement and the response to COVID-19 and calling for the resignation of the government and the dissolution of the parliament. In some instances, these protests turned violent, and on 25 July, protestors attacked Ennahda's offices in Monastir, Sfax, El Kef and Sousse.
Announcement
On the night of 25 July 2021, Saied announced in a televised address the adoption of "extraordinary measures", namely the dismissal of the government, the suspension of parliament and the lifting of its members' parliamentary immunity. Saied said that he would assume executive authority with a new prime minister, and also declared himself attorney general.
In the announcement, which came after meeting between Saied and his top advisors and security leaders at his palace, Saied warned "any who think of resorting to weapons". Hours later, military forces were deployed to barricade the parliament's headquarters, preventing Ghannouchi and other parliamentarians from entering the building.
Reactions
Domestic
Many Tunisians initially supported the move, with tens of thousands taking to the streets to celebrate the coup soon after its announcement. However, economic downturn since reduced the popularity of Saied and the new constitution.
The next day after the coup, Mechichi released a statement on social media in which he announced that he would hand over authority to the next Prime Minister the President chooses, saying that he won't "play an obstructive role in complicating the situation in Tunisia" and that he will "continue to serve his country under all circumstances". Middle East Eye (MEE) reported that Mechichi was physically assaulted and forced to resign. This was denied by Mechichi, but the MEE "stood by its report". Mechichi's first public appearance came eleven days after the coup at the Tunisian anti-corruption agency to declare his properties.