Saeid to dissolve Supreme Judicial Council in Tunisia

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Tunisian President Kais Saeid announced the Tunisian Council of Ministers would today consider the decree related to the dissolution of the Supreme Judicial Council.

The President declared that Tunisia must be "purified", and the only way this could happen was if the judiciary was purified.

According to Saeid, a draft decree has been prepared for reconciliation with businessmen involved in corruption in exchange for development projects.

In response, the Supreme Judicial Council declared that the Council is the only legitimate institution that represents the judiciary, and the creation of an alternative is illegal.

The Council rejected Saeid's decision and dozens of judges protested in the capital on Thursday.

Judges gathered in front of the headquarters of the Palace of Justice, raising banners with phrases like "The people want an independent judiciary," and " the dissolution of the judiciary is the dissolution of the state."

Recently, Saied attacked Tunisia's civil judiciary, including the Supreme Judicial Council, accusing it of corruption and failing to respond quickly to cases of corruption and terrorism.

Two days ago, the Association of Tunisian Judges issued a call to halt all court operations within the country after Saeid dissolved a major body dealing with judicial independence.

The Supreme Judicial Council refuses infringement on the judiciary's constitutional structure

The Judicial Council declared that it alone was the legitimate institution that represents the judiciary and that the creation of an alternative transitional body is illegal.

The Council described the transitional body as contradictory to the constitution and in violation of the interest of justice and the rights of citizens.