Laying out the timeline for his proposed political changes in a televised speech, Saied said the referendum would take place on July 25, following an online public consultation that will start in January. Saied's announcement of a road map out of the crisis has been awaited since he suspended parliament, dismissed the prime minister and assumed executive authority. The referendum date is Tunisia's Republic Day and the anniversary of his sudden intervention, which has cast doubt on the North African country's democratic gains since the 2011 revolution that triggered the "Arab spring" revolts. Saied said he would appoint a committee of experts to draft a new constitution, to be ready by June ahead of the referendum. Mohammed Abou, a former minister, said in a televised interview that Saied's "violation of the constitution" amounted to a coup.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 13, 2021 21:23 UTC