Tunisians protest president ahead of polls

TUNIS — Hundreds protested in Tunisia on Saturday against President Kais Saied ahead of parliamentary elections that represent the latest consolidation of a power grab he began in July last year.

The protests were organised by political parties that have been marginalised by Saied, first by him firing the government and suspending parliament last year, then by a new constitution.

"Freedoms, freedoms, the police state is finished!" protesters shouted.

Demonstrators marched in central Tunis holding aloft banners with the words "resign" and others complaining that people have become "poorer and hungrier", AFP correspondents saw.

Elevated food prices and shortages of basic goods reflect a long-running economic crisis in the North African country.

After protests toppled longtime dictator Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, Tunisia established a democracy that was quickly riven by factional infighting.

Saied's moves since July last year, while initially welcomed by some, have raised fears among others that the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring protest movements is headed back to autocracy.

The economy has been struck by the coronavirus pandemic and the spike in commodity prices driven in large part by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The International Monetary Fund in October announced agreement on a $1.9 billion rescue package for Tunisia, on condition of reforms.

Opposition parties are boycotting parliamentary elections set for December 17, saying the new electoral law is part of Saied’s “coup”.