I will hasten to him9/5/2023 ![]() ![]() Amplified by a chorus of criticisms from NGOs, politicians, and constitutional scholars, Belaïd’s condemnation-not to mention his subsequent resignation from the drafting committee-is feeding a growing sense of political and social chaos only a few weeks before the government is supposed to conduct a referendum for which it has apparently done little to prepare. By contrast, the official draft both gives dictatorial powers to the president and sets out some vague religious concepts he could invoke to impose his will. The committee’s text, Belaïd stressed, strengthens the executive branch while still maintaining democratic governance. On the day of its publication, Sadok Belaïd-a veteran constitutional scholar whom Saied appointed to lead a constitutional advisory committee- asserted that the text published in the Official Gazette on June 30 was not the one he had handed the president just ten days before. Events leading up to and following the publication of the draft constitution may work in their favor. Peering at the dark horizon before them, opposition leaders are still struggling to unify their ranks behind a nationwide movement. With the “people’s will” thus revealed, the president will be well-positioned to consolidate his domination over the political arena. Those who do turn out will respond to a referendum that will surely be worded to solicit a “yes” vote. ![]() On that day Tunisians will vote in a referendum that will pose only one question: Do you support the new draft constitution for the Tunisian Republic? In the heat of summer, with most Tunisians struggling to buy food and estranged from politics, it would be a miracle if more than 30 percent of the voting populace shows up at the polls to endorse the document that the government published on June 30. ![]() The gathering storm provoked by Tunisian President Kais Saied’s attempt to forge a new political system could reach a critical moment on July 25. ![]()
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