Tunisia’s Third Republic Coalition Demands Regime Change

Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
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Tunisia’s Third Republic Coalition Demands Regime Change

Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
Members of the honor guard stand at attention during a flag-raising in place of Kasba in Tunis, Tunisia, June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Tunisia’s Third Republic Coalition, a citizen initiative that involves organizations and civil society, has set forth its demands which include the dissolution of the House of People's Representatives (parliament) and the formation of a technocrat-led caretaker government.

Constitution review, the amendment of the election law, and the investigation of the suspected funding of parties and civil society organizations are among the main demands. It also calls for holding national dialogue for youth employment, boosting the purchasing power, and establishing a higher council of sports and youth.

The Coalition announced its intention to stage an open and peaceful sit-in starting from June 14 outside the parliament.

Marouan Baldounin, the Coalition’s general coordinator, said that the sit-in scheduled for tomorrow aimed at "restoring the country and drawing new landmarks for a Tunisia with national sovereignty."

He also questioned whether the current parliament serves national interests or foreign agendas and whether the current constitution is able to solve the crisis of governance in Tunisia.

Baldounin added that the Coalition was formed to restore the rule of law and establish a third republic.

On the possibility of the Coalition being accused of fueling chaos and seeking to overthrow the elected authority, Baldounin explained that members of this Coalition are a group of free and non-partisan citizens, highlighting that the movements that gathered in the framework of this Coalition are all social movements that do not belong to any political party.

In other news, government investigations have led to 43 suspects involved in the famous money laundering case associated with the acquisition of luxury real estate in the Spanish province of Alicante by Tunisian figures.



Iraq Reopens Syria Crossing for Trade, Passenger Traffic

A general view shows the US Embassy as seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad
A general view shows the US Embassy as seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad
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Iraq Reopens Syria Crossing for Trade, Passenger Traffic

A general view shows the US Embassy as seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad
A general view shows the US Embassy as seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq, June 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad

Iraq has officially reopened the Qaim border crossing with Syria for trade and passenger traffic, a spokesman for the Iraqi border authority said on Saturday, marking a key step in efforts to normalize relations and revive economic ties between the two countries.

“The Qaim crossing is now fully operational for both cargo trucks and civilian movement,” the spokesman told Reuters, adding that the reopening followed joint security assessments by Iraqi and Syrian officials.

The move comes three months after Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited Baghdad and urged Iraq to resume cross-border trade. The crossing had been shut in the wake of the revolt that toppled President Bashar al-Assad and the ensuing years of conflict that destabilized the region.

The reopening is also seen as a sign of warming ties between Baghdad and Syria’s new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has sought to re-establish diplomatic and economic relations with regional neighbors. Iraqi officials say the two governments have intensified coordination on border security and trade facilitation since al-Sharaa took office last year.

“This crossing will serve as a strategic corridor for commodity trade between Iraq and Syria,” said Turki al-Mahallawi, mayor of the town of al-Qaim, where the border post is located.