- Government must ‘confront public opinion,’ Tunisian opposition demands
- Coalition says Saied, 65, hasn’t appeared in public since March 22
Tunisian Opposition Asks for Clarification
Tunisia’s main opposition coalition called on the government to address concerns about President Kais Saied’s health after he failed to appear in public for almost two weeks.
If Saied, 65, is unable to fulfill his duties, the head of the National Salvation Front, a coalition of opposition parties including moderate Islamist Ennahda, said Monday that the government should temporarily assume executive powers.
Health Minister Refuses to Comment about Health of the President
Tunisia’s Health Minister Ali Murrabit, yesterday refused to comment on the reports circulating on social media about the health of President Kais Saied. The minister chose to remain silent when asked about the news of the president’s illness.
Several social media users on Facebook and Twitter, as well as some of Saied’s opponents, circulated news and reports suggesting that he had a health setback that prevented him from partaking in his usual activities.
Saied has not been seen in public since 22 March, when he visited the capital’s Bab Souika neighborhood.
The Italian news agency Nova confirmed the cancellation of a meeting between Saied and European Commissioner for the Economy Paolo Gentiloni at Carthage Palace. No explanation was provided. While Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar received a copy of the credentials of the new Brazilian Ambassador, Fernando José de Abreu, Saied was required to do so by protocol.
Mild Heart Attack
In a later recent published update, European diplomatic sources contacted by “Agenzia Nova” confirmed that Saied, was actually hospitalized last Thursday, March 30, for a mild heart attack.
The president would have undergone surgery immediately and would already be at the Presidential Palace of Carthage. According to “Nova” sources, the Tunisian president should return to work as early as the day after tomorrow, Wednesday 5 April.
The uncertainty of the President’s successor is due to the failure to establish the Constitutional Court shortly after the implementation of the new constitution, which leaves room for perilous power struggles.
