Tunisians Stage Largest Protest in Years Against President Saied Amidst Economic Woes and Freedom Concerns

Thousands of Tunisians took to the streets of the capital on Saturday in the latest demonstration against President Kais Saied, citing worsening living conditions and restrictions on political freedoms. The protest, led by the influential Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) along with opposition parties and civil society organizations, marked the largest public outcry against Saied in recent years. It brought together previously divided political opponents, potentially strengthening their challenge to his leadership.

According to the AFP news agency, over 3,000 people participated in the march, though this figure could not be independently verified. Protesters gathered along Habib Bourguiba Avenue, a central Tunis thoroughfare, under a heavy police presence, with several surrounding roads closed. The diverse crowd included lawyers, doctors, journalists, the unemployed, and activists from across the political spectrum. Their demands focused on the release of detained government critics and an end to restrictions on trade union rights. Placards displayed messages such as “No democracy without freedoms” and “No dignity with poverty,” highlighting the political and economic grievances fueling the demonstration.

During the rally, UGTT Secretary-General Salah Eddine Salmi criticized the concentration of power within the presidency and declared that “silence will no longer be acceptable.” These political demands were amplified by growing frustration over the rising cost of basic goods and a decline in purchasing power.

Tunisia has been grappling with persistent economic difficulties, including deteriorating public services, frequent water and electricity outages, and shortages of essential medicines. Demonstrator Yassine Gharseli, who traveled from Sfax, expressed his deep frustration with the authorities due to these disruptions. “I came from Sfax to stand up for my freedom,” he told Reuters, emphasizing his resolve to continue speaking out.

Saturday’s march echoed previous protests concerning similar issues. On August 20, demonstrators in Tunis rallied against price hikes and shortages of essential items. The previous month, fuel transport workers, affiliated with a union federation under the UGTT, staged a two-day strike over wages and working conditions.

The current demands bear resemblance to the 2011 uprising that ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, an event that sparked protests across the Arab world. While Tunisia subsequently held competitive elections and expanded political freedoms, issues like unemployment and struggling public services have remained persistent sources of public anger. President Saied assumed power promising an alternative to the existing political system. However, in 2021, he suspended parliament and dismissed the government, citing efforts to combat corruption and political deadlock. He later dissolved parliament, and a new constitution in 2022 significantly increased presidential powers.