Thousands of Tunisians gathered in a nationwide rally this week, marking what officials described as the biggest protest in years against President Kais Saied. Demonstrators took to the streets to voice discontent over deteriorating living conditions and what they see as increasing restrictions on political freedoms.
The march was organized jointly by a coalition of trade unions and opposition parties, which together called for urgent reforms. Participants highlighted soaring prices, unemployment and shortages of basic goods as evidence of a worsening economic crisis, while also condemning recent measures that they say curtail free speech and assembly.
Analysts note that the protest reflects a broader wave of dissatisfaction that has been building since Saied’s 2021 consolidation of power, which many observers say has shifted Tunisia’s democratic trajectory. The country, which sparked the Arab Spring in 2011, has struggled with high public debt and inflation, fueling social unrest.
While the demonstrators remained largely peaceful, the scale of the turnout underscores the depth of public frustration. Organizers said the rally aimed to pressure the government into addressing both economic hardships and the perceived erosion of civil liberties.
International observers have called for dialogue and respect for democratic norms, emphasizing that sustained public discontent could have significant implications for Tunisia’s political stability and its reform agenda.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>
