Editor-in-chief of Al-Kateebah, Mohammad al-Yousefi, said on Friday that the resignation of the Tunisian Health Minister is part of a "settlement of accounts" with Tunisian President Kais Saied.

In an interview for Al-Mayadeen, al-Yousefi added that "the Tunisian state turned into an archipelago, and this state of chaos cannot continue."

He added that "a real political mafia is running Tunisia without caring about the people suffering," stressing that "political parties hide behind unelected government officials because they do not have programs or competent individuals."

"Tunisia elected Kais Saied as President and the Ennahda movement as the party designated with managing political life, especially inside the parliament," al-Yousefi said.

#المسائية | ما الخلفية الحقيقة لإقالة وزير الصحة التونسي؟ هل سببها سوء إدارة ملف؟ أم في سياق تصفيات سياسية؟#تونس #كورونا pic.twitter.com/7WAWxXmQfM

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) July 22, 2021

He also added that there can be no solution without an all-inclusive agreement and political settlement between these two and that "those disrupting this settlement come from the 'Heart of Tunisia' party and 'Ennahda' movement."

Al-Yousefi continued, "I'm going to divulge something serious," adding that " MPs from both parties are talking about certain ethical incidents PM Hichem Mechichi being blackmailed with to keep him from resigning, despite the situation in Tunisia, and you can hold me responsible for what I'm saying."

However, he went on to say that the Prime Minister denies these claims and called on him to "tell the people of Tunisia the truth, I am my own master, and I'm not blackmailed by the 'Ennahda' movement and the 'Heart of Tunisia' party." 

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رئيس تحرير موقع الكتيبة محمد اليوسفي في #المسائية:

نواب من حركة "النهضة" وحزب "قلب تونس" يتحدثون عن ملفات أخلاقية يتم ابتزاز #المشيشي بها حتى لا يستقيل!#كورونا #تونس #تونس_تستغيث pic.twitter.com/qC53062UuT

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) July 23, 2021

Al-Yousefi's statements for Al-Mayadeen caused an uproar on social media with regards to some parties blackmailing Mechichi.

@OueslatiLotfi2 #تونس 🇹🇳#اليوسفي..
على قناة الميادين :
نواب عن النهضة وقلب تونس كشفوا ان قياجاتهم تبتز رئيس الحكومة #هشام_المشيشي بملفات اخلاقية ويبتزونة ليبقى في السلطة ينفذ مايريدون...
واتحدى المشيشي ان يكذبني..
😲😲😲😲😲😲

— zuhair64 (@zuhair64) July 22, 2021

الصحفي محمد اليوسفي يصرح على قناة الميادين أن النهضة و قلب تونس يهدادن المشيشي بفضح وكشف ملفاته الأخلاقية إن هو تجرأ على تقديم استقالته.
هههههه يا سلام سلم https://t.co/ZYmEDbG4mg

— S.G 🇹🇳🇹🇳 (@SG46206016) July 23, 2021

Tunisian Writer and researcher Riadh Sidaoui said that Mechichi's government is responsible for the failure in handling the Covid-19 pandemic, adding that Mechichi dismissed the Health Minister because he's affiliated with Kais Saied.

#المسائية | رياض الصيداوي لـ #الميادين: "بحسب الدستور التونسي، الصحة من مسؤوليات الحكومة، وليست من مسؤوليات رئيس الجمهورية".#تونس #كورونا pic.twitter.com/wnjWuIqOV1

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) July 22, 2021

Mohamed Fourati, editor in chief of Tunisia daily's El Fajr, said that dismissing the minister is the least thing the Prime Minister could have done since President Kais Saied disrupted the government and did not deal with it seriously and diplomatically. 

He added that "we have begun to live in a state of chaos, and are witnessing more corruption as the state grows weaker."

#المسائية | محمد الفوراتي لـ #الميادين: "المشكلة في غياب التواصل وانعدام الثقة بين رئاسة الجمهورية وبين الحكومة".#الميادين #تونس #كورونا pic.twitter.com/JPdEZt7AGR

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) July 22, 2021

Tunisian Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi dismissed the Health Minister, calling his performance in the ministry disastrous and holding President Saied responsible for the deteriorating health situation because of the change in government.