TUNIS-(MaraviPost)-The president of Tunisia Kais Saied has sacked 57 judges accused of corruption, protecting extremist groups and sexual harassment in bid to amend the country’s judicial system.
Saied disclosed this in a televised state address adding that the decision was made following warnings to the judiciary to purify itself amid several allegations.
His announcement was followed by official gazette decree announcing the dismissals.
Among those sacked was Youssef Bouzaker, the former head of the Supreme Judicial Council whose members Saied replaced this year as he moved to take control of the judiciary.
The council had acted as the main guarantor of judicial independence since Tunisia’s 2011 revolution that introduced democracy and Saied’s changes prompted accusations he was interfering in the judicial process.
Prior to this, Saied also dismissed the government and seized executive power in a move his foes called a coup before setting aside the 2014 constitution to rule by decree and dismissing the elected parliament.
According to AFP, Saied justified his decision as a move to save Tunisia from crisis which was welcomed with widespread public support after years of economic stagnation, political paralysis and corruption in the country.
However, the recent move has been faced with mass criticisms from all political parties in the country including the powerful UGTT labour union.
The UGTT has therefore announced that public sector workers would go on strike on June 16, posing the biggest direct challenge to Saied’s power grab so far.
In March, thousands of Tunisians protested against President Kais Saied accusing him of grabbing power amid a deepening political crisis.