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Tunisian parliament rebuffs president's decisions

TUNIS, July 26 (KUNA) -- The Tunisian parliament bureau on Monday rejected as a breach of the constitution President Qaid Saied's decisions to sack the government and suspend parliament.
The bureau, in a statement following a virtual session chaired by the speaker, Rashed Al-Ghannoushi, expressed firm rejection of the president decisions, calling upon government security forces to secure regular function of state institutions and Abstain from "subjugation to unconstitutional orders." Moreover, the parliament office called upon MPs to defend "the republic values and work side by side with the people in facing the covid crisis and its dangerous economic and social repercussions." The statement emphasized that the state must secure continuity of the public institutions work and the parliament in particular, calling on the people to be ready for "defending Tunisia's independence and freedom of its people." Meanwhile, the presidential decisions drew diverse reactions from legal experts. Amin Mahfouz, an expert in constitutional law, expressed in remarks to the television station, "Al-Hiwar Al-Tunisi" confidence in the president and hoped his measures would lead to a fundamental solution to the crisis.
Saghir Al-Zakrawi, a professor in public law, told the local radio station, "Mosaic," activation of article 80 of the constitution has become a popular demand, adding that President Saied responded to the will of people.
Ayyad bin Ashour, constitutional law professor, said in remarks to the same radio station that he considers the president decisions "a coup against the constitution and the state." For his, Abdulrazzak Mukhtar, a professor of constitutional law, accused the president of manipulating article 80 to "gather all powers in his hands." (end) ksj.rk