Tunisia – Summary of the reshuffle: Kaïs Saïed left out !

Some observers have made, this Saturday evening, a very careful reading of the reshuffle by prime minister  Hichem Mechichi after the latter insisted that the majority of political parties of the parliament shouldn’t be forgotten.

For these observers, this reshuffle was a chance to cut ties with Kaïs Saïed, in an effort to isolate him in his palace at Carthage. He who was starting to have more and more tendency to intervene in the affairs of the government, by expanding the number of visits and by inviting, more and more often, ministers to provide them, straight, his instructions and hold them accountable, without going through the presidency of the government.

This behaviour was starting to bother Kasbah, but also Bardo, to the point where they chose to put an end to it.

Consequently, this reshuffle will have been, in substance and in form, an opportunity to proclaim the rupture of bridges with Carthage. In terms of form, Mechichi had no discussion with Kaïs Saïed, concerning the ministers to be dismissed, nor those he was going to propose. Which provoked the latter to complain to Samia Abbou. Further, this afternoon, we realised that Saïed opposed an end of not receiving to the list which was introduced to him by Mechichi. This did not deter the latter from proceeding his work without the advice and endorsement of Carthage. By the way, this breakup is apparent in Mechichi’s address when introducing his new team. He, in fact, reported, with assurance, that he has met with the partners, verified his choices in his capacity as prime minister, and he was going to propose his new team to the vote of the parliament, in accordance with to the provisions of the Constitution. This suggests that, according to the Constitution, Kaïs Saïed does not have to intervene in the structure of the government, apart from the choice of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and National Defense.

Basically, this reshuffle had the benefit of being clear: There is no more room for the ministers designated by the Presidency of the Republic!

It is to this extent that all the ministers blamed on Carthage were expelled from the government.

Now things are clear: On one side there will be Carthage and on the other, The Kasbah and the Bardo! Now we have to wait for Carthage’s reaction!