Tunisian President Kais Saied announces constitutional referendum

Tunisian President Kais Saied has announced that parliament will remain suspended until fresh elections are held a year from now. In a national TV address, Mr. Saied also laid out plans for a referendum on the constitution next year.

Ever since he froze parliament and dismissed the then prime minister back in July, Tunisian President Kais Saied has continued to cement his hold on power while stressing that his actions have been necessary to shake a corrupt political status quo and



reinvigorate the failing economy.

Mr. Saied's plan for a public consultation process to begin next month on constitutional reform will either please or further alarm each side in equal measure.

In case his message wasn't clear enough, the president has set the date for a referendum on the constitution to take place next 25 July - exactly a year on from the day he staged his dramatic seizure of full executive power.