Tunisian President Kais Saied announced during a tour in Tunis on Saturday evening that the government will be formed "as soon as possible." He also spoke about the possibility of making amendments to the country's constitution. In comments to "Sky News" and national TV following his walk in Habib Bourguiba Street under heavy security, Saied stated that the government will be formed "in the closest time" after choosing individuals who are "flawless," without specifying a timeline. He added, "We will continue to search for individuals who feel the weight of the trust and carry it."
Saied referred to the 2014 constitution, saying, "I respect the constitution but it is possible to make amendments to the text." He believed that "the people are tired of the constitution and the legal rules that were tailored to specific interests, and amendments must be made within the framework of the constitution." He continued, "Constitutions are not eternal, and amendments can be made to respond to the Tunisian people as sovereignty belongs to the people and it is their right to express their will."
Photos released by the Tunisian presidency's Facebook page showed Saied strolling in the street while a crowd greeted him and recited the national anthem, before he stopped to speak to the two television channels.
In recent days, several media outlets reported an imminent announcement regarding the formation of the new government, followed by a constitutional review before holding new legislative elections.
Earlier on Saturday, a Tunisian man died from burns sustained after he set himself on fire in the heart of Tunis, an event reminiscent of the spark that ignited the Tunisian revolution in 2011 when street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi self-immolated. The Civil Protection Office reported to AFP that a 35-year-old man "set himself on fire on Habib Bourguiba Avenue, suffering third-degree burns and was rushed to a trauma and burn center." In the evening, local media and state television reported that the man's motives were unknown and that he succumbed to his injuries.
Saied, a law professor elected president at the end of 2019, had announced the activation of a constitutional article that allows him to take measures in case of a "serious threat to the existence of the nation and the security and stability of the country," dismissed the Prime Minister, and suspended parliament for 30 days initially. He then announced on August 25 the extension of Parliament's suspension "until further notice." Since July 25, the president has not appointed a new Prime Minister, nor disclosed a "roadmap" demanded by several political parties and civil society organizations. Some legal experts and political parties, notably the Ennahda Islamic Movement, which has the largest parliamentary bloc, consider Saied's actions a "coup."
