Tunisian president decrees a referendum for new constitution

Kais Saied, Tunisian President

© APA | Kais Saied, Tunisian President

# 26 May 2022 04:18 (UTC +04:00)

Tunisian President Kais Saied issued on Wednesday a decree to call voters to a referendum on a new constitution on July 25, the official gazette said, ignoring the opposition's calls to reverse the controversial move, APA reports citing Reuters.

Saied last week named law professor Sadok Belaid to head an advisory committee that included law and political science deans, to draft a new constitution for a "new republic," excluding political parties from restructuring the political system.

The main political parties have said they will boycott the unilateral restructuring of politics.

The powerful UGTT union also refused to take part in a limited dialog proposed by the president as he rewrites the constitution.The union said it would hold a national strike at state firms and public services.

Belaid said earlier on Wednesday he would go ahead with whomever participates in the panel after prominent academics refused to join it, raising fears the restructuring of the political system would not have a broad consensus.

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THE OPERATION IS BEING PERFORMED