Thousands of protesters take to the streets in Tunisia as political crisis deepens

Supporters of Tunisia’s ruling party took to the streets on Saturday in one of the largest protests the country has seen in years.

Witnesses said thousands of supporters of the Islamic conservative Ennahda party travelled to the capital Tunis, after the party had called for a “march for the defence of democratic institutions.”

The demonstrators called for “national unity” and “political stability,” state news agency TAP reported.

In its call to protest, Ennahda said Tunisia had seen “irresponsible behaviour” in the past months which “disturbed the democratic process,” sowing an “atmosphere of doubt and insecurity” with regard to state institutions.

The backdrop of the protests is a deepening political crisis as President Kais Saied opposes the restructuring of the Cabinet under Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, which the parliament has already approved.

The protests are meant to strengthen Mechichi and demonstrate the power of Ennahda, the country’s largest party.