Saied scraps post-revolution city councils

Tunisian President Kais Saied on Thursday dissolved the country's elected municipal councils, seen as a key democratic gain after the 2011 revolt that sparked the Arab Spring.

Saied sacked the government in a 2021 power grab, and has since scrapped the post-revolution constitution, neutered parliament and seized far-reaching executive powers in what opponents say is a return to autocracy.

In a decision published in the official journal, Saied replaced the councils with "special delegations" made up of civil servants who would be placed under the supervision of the governor of each region.

The mandate of about 350 sitting mayors and municipal councillors was to expire in late April, theoretically meaning an election would take place.

The current councils were the product of a 2018 election won by independent lists and the Islamist-inspired party Ennahdha — which has dominated Tunisian politics since the revolution and is Saied's archenemy.

Many councils have since seen bitter internal power struggles and by-elections.

In a video published overnight Wednesday-Thursday, Saied had said a bill would be examined to "dissolve all local council and replace them with special delegations."

The president also said the country would "continue to march towards victory," before accusing his critics of "playing the victim."

"Today they demonstrate freely and claim there is tyranny as they march under police protection," he said, referring to recent anti-government protests during which the police were deployed.

The official journal also said that a new parliament, elected in December and January polls, would hold its first sitting on March 13.

More than 20 political figures have been arrested in the North African country in recent weeks, mainly outspoken opponents of Saied.

Rights group Amnesty International has labeled the arrests a "politically motivated witch hunt."