Tunisian Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi. AFP
Ousted Tunisian prime minister Hichem Michechi said on Monday night that he “accepts being relieved from office,” and vowed to hand over power to the president’s pick for the post.
On Sunday, Tunisian President Kais Saied sacked Mechichi, as the relationship between the two was fraught with disputes over the past year, and froze the parliament dominated by the Islamic block Ennahda, lifting immunity from all of its members.
Mechichi said in a statement on Monday night that he “will hand over power to the president’s pick for the premiership, as a continuation of the peaceful transition of power tradition since the 2011 revolution and as a sign of respect for the state’s rules and laws.
Mechichi said that his move came out of his keenness to spare the country more strife at a time when it needs cooperation from all factions to get out of this crisis.
“I cannot be an element that impedes the country or exacerbates the crisis it is in,” he added.
The ousted prime minister said that he understands the feelings of frustration and desperation that the people feel due to the huge delay in having their needs met, which has led to distrust in the political elite and consecutive governments.
President Kais Saied ordered an overnight curfew between 7pm and 6am and restricted inter-city travel one day after he dismissed the prime minister and froze the parliament.
The nationwide curfew, from 26 July to 27 August, involves an inter-city travel ban and a ban on gatherings of more than three people in public spaces
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