Tunisian Parties Call For Dissolution of Parliament, Withdrawal of Confidence from Speaker

President Kais Saeid meets with his South Korea's Interior minister on Tuesday. (dpa)
President Kais Saeid meets with his South Korea's Interior minister on Tuesday. (dpa)
TT

Tunisian Parties Call For Dissolution of Parliament, Withdrawal of Confidence from Speaker

President Kais Saeid meets with his South Korea's Interior minister on Tuesday. (dpa)
President Kais Saeid meets with his South Korea's Interior minister on Tuesday. (dpa)

The Free Destourian Party urged President Kais Saeid to take urgent action to dissolve the parliament and call on lawmakers to sign a petition to withdraw confidence from Speaker Rached Ghannouchi.

On Monday, the parliament office announced that the parliament was going to hold its plenary sessions, in defiance of Saeid's suspension of the legislature.

The parliament said it wanted to meet to address the serious financial, economic, and social crisis in the country.

Head of the Free Destourian Party Abir Moussi said the petition needs the approval of 109 deputies to dissolve parliament and call for early legislative elections.

She added lawmakers would not reject Saeid's invitation if he took a step toward dismissing Ghannouchi, dissolving parliament, and holding the elections.

Moussi filed a judicial complaint to invalidate the decisions of the frozen parliament and stop the plenary sessions scheduled to begin Wednesday.

She warned that going ahead with the meetings would mark a dangerous precedent in the country given the president's order to suspend parliament in July last year.

Saeid had criticized Ghannouchi's call for parliament to convene. Speaking a National Security Council meeting, he stressed that the law must be respected, noting that "the so-called 'virtual meeting' is illegal because the assembly is frozen."

"The State will only recover through an independent judiciary, which is being challenged by those who desperately trying to stage a coup," charged the president.

Saeid stressed that the Tunisian state is not a "puppet" to be toyed with by national and foreign entities.

He warned against attempts to convene the suspended parliament, saying the state's forces and institutions will confront those who want to tamper with the state and push Tunisians to conflict.



Arab League Urges Global Efforts to Build a Safer Future for Generations

File photo of a previous meeting of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
File photo of a previous meeting of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Arab League Urges Global Efforts to Build a Safer Future for Generations

File photo of a previous meeting of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
File photo of a previous meeting of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Arab League has called for urgent action to create a safer world for future generations, stressing the need to protect vulnerable groups, including migrants, and strengthen their resilience.
In a statement issued on Wednesday to mark International Migrants Day, observed annually on December 18, the Arab League emphasized the importance of maximizing migrants' contributions to sustainable development in both host and origin countries.

It also underscored the need to combat racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and all forms of discrimination to foster social cohesion and cultural dialogue, adding that these objectives align with global frameworks such as the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and the Pact for the Future.
The statement referenced initiatives led by Bahrain, as outlined in the declaration of the 33rd Arab Summit held on May 16, 2024.

These initiatives include providing educational services to those affected by regional conflicts, particularly those deprived of formal education due to security challenges, displacement, and migration. The initiatives also aim to improve healthcare for conflict-affected populations.
Highlighting the ongoing global crises, the General Secretariat of the Arab League noted that instability, poverty, underdevelopment, and climate change are driving unprecedented migration flows. "Millions of migrants face an uncertain and unpredictable future due to wars, armed conflicts, poverty, and climate challenges. This reality underscores the urgent need to address the root causes of instability to prevent future generations from undertaking dangerous journeys in search of safety and opportunity," the statement said.
The Arab League called for sustainable solutions that balance immediate humanitarian assistance with long-term development strategies. It stressed the importance of promoting sustainability based on the interests of future generations, ensuring a comprehensive approach that addresses conflict, violence, and poverty while fostering global cooperation.