Tunisians Stage Biggest Anti-Saied Protest in Years

Thousands of Tunisians held their largest protest in years against President Kais Saied amid a deepening economic crisis, worsening public services, and shortages of basic goods.

A large-scale demonstration was held on Saturday in the capital of Tunisia, led by the major labor union UGTT and civil society organizations. Opposition parties from diverse political factions, lawyers, doctors, journalists, and unemployed citizens marched along Habib Burgiba Avenue, displaying a rare show of unity against President Kais Saied's rule. With hundreds of police deployed across the capital, protesters chanted slogans calling for the release of critics and opposing the regime.

Demonstrators accused Saied of undermining democracy and mismanaging the economy. The country is grappling with a deepening economic crisis, deteriorating public services, recurring water and power cuts, and shortages of medicine and basic consumer goods. President Saied acquired sweeping powers in 2021 and 2022 by dissolving parliament, dismissing dozens of judges, and ruling by decree. While opponents have labeled these moves a coup, rights organizations note an increase in pressure on civil society, journalists, and opposition figures.

Rejecting the criticism, President Saied maintains that he is not a dictator and accuses his opponents of engineering economic crises to trigger social unrest. Taking place at a time when prolonged divisions had weakened the opposition's capacity to mobilize large crowds, this protest poses a significant challenge to the Saied administration.