According to a decree published in the Official Gazette in Tunisia, 57 judges, accused by President Kais Saied of corruption and protecting terrorists, were dismissed on Wednesday.
Tunisian President Kais Saied sacked 57 judges on Wednesday (June 1st), accusing them of corruption and protecting terrorists, as part of a justice purge that comes as he seeks to redesign the political system after granted almost all powers.
In a televised speech, the president said he had given “warning after warning” to justice to “purify itself”.
A decree formalizing the dismissal of judges has been published in the Official Journal.
This announcement comes as the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT), a powerful union with more than a million members, called on Tuesday for a national strike on June 16 in public services and the public sector against the government’s refusal to raise wages despite inflation.
The strike could be the most powerful challenge to President Kais Saied since he assumed expanded powers by dissolving parliament to rule by decree last summer.
It could also complicate the government’s efforts to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to overcome the serious financial crisis in which Tunisia is plunged.