Tunisia: The main opposition coalition of Tunisia has demanded that President Mr. Kais Saied must resign after fewer than 9 percent of eligible voters took part in parliamentary elections.

The leader of National Salvation Front Tunisia (NSFT) Mr. Nejib Chebbi, criticised the poll by stating that the election was a “fiasco” and called for mass protests to demand snap presidential elections.

According to Tunisia’s electoral officials, only 8.8 percent of the roughly nine-million-strong electorate had voted in the parliamentary elections.

The NSFT head added there should be a short transitional period under a judge followed by presidential elections and a national dialogue.

The election was boycotted by most of the opposition parties by accusing Mr. Saied of reversing the democratic progress made since the 2011 uprising.

Mr. Saied has introduced a new constitution, greatly reducing the relevance of the country’s political parties, which he characterized as enemies of the people.

The new constitution replaced the one which was one drafted soon after the Arab Spring in 2011 to overthrow late dictator Mr. Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. The constitution gave the head of state full executive control and supreme command of the army.

Mr. Saied claims that such powers were needed to break a cycle of political paralysis and economic decay.

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