Fakhfakh’s Powers Renew Political Dispute in Tunisia

Asharq Alawsat

April 3rd, 8:11am

Tunis - Mongi Saidani

Tunisia's Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh speaks during a handover ceremony in Tunis, Tunisia February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Assistant of Tunisian president Nesrine Amari said Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh complained to Parliament Speaker Rashid Ghannouchi over the procedures to limit his mandate to one month as the country faces the new coronavirus pandemic. Reliable sources said that the government delegation might withdraw the mandate request, considering it "insufficient" following the amendments it went through. The PM might appeal to the president to activate chapter 80 of the constitution enabling the prime minister to take urgent procedures to face any imminent danger facing the country. This comes one day before the scheduled general session to vote over the mandate amid the ongoing conflict between the PM and the speaker. In this regard, some constitutional law experts advised the PM to address the president and urge him to activate chapter 80 of the constitution. Constitutional law professor Amin Mahfouz said the speaker’s response to the government's request over the mandate reflected lack of confidence in the government. In this case, chapter 80 of the constitution should be enforced, enabling the PM to take exceptional decisions in all fields considering that the country is in exceptional phase. Mahfouz highlighted the fact that the three presidents affirmed that Tunisia is in "a state of war", which calls for extraordinary measures.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2214326/fakhfakh%E2%80%99s-powers-renew-political-dispute-tunisia