Tunisian president says to name new judicial council

TUNIS, Tunisia

Tunisian President Kais Saied said Thursday he will issue a decree to dissolve the country's Supreme Judicial Council and name a new body.

"The Supreme Judicial Council will be dissolved by a presidential decree and be replaced by another council," Saied said, without giving further details.

Speaking during a cabinet meeting at the Cartage Palace in the capital Tunis, Saied said the Tunisian people want the country “cleansed”.

“This can’t be done without cleansing the judiciary,” he said. "We respect the judges and appreciate their work and the heavy duty they carry, but they have to hold it with full independence.”

For its part, the Supreme Judicial Council renewed its rejection of any dissolution of the council.

“The council is the sole constitutional and legitimate institution that represents the judicial authority" in the country, it said in a statement.

The Supreme Judicial Council is an independent constitutional body whose tasks include ensuring the independence of the judiciary, holding judges accountable, and granting them professional promotions.

Tension has marred Saied’s relations with the council, with the Tunisian leader criticizing the judiciary over delays in issuing rulings in cases of corruption and terrorism.

Last July, Saied dismissed the government, suspended parliament, and assumed executive authority amid mounting public anger over economic stagnation and political paralysis.

While Saied insists that his "exceptional measures" were meant to "save" the country, critics have accused him of orchestrating a coup.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar