After violent nationwide protests on Sunday, Tunisia’s president fired the prime minister and suspended parliament.
Anger over the government’s handling of a significant recent rise in Covid cases has added to the country’s economic and social woes.
President Kais Saied, who was elected in 2019, has stated that he will take over the presidency.
His fans erupted in applause, but his detractors in parliament accused him of attempting a coup.
Tunisia’s 2011 revolution is widely cited as the lone victory of the Arab Spring revolts, yet it has not resulted in economic or political stability.
Sunday saw thousands of people demonstrating against Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and the moderate Islamist ruling party, Ennahda, shouting “Get out!”.
Security forces in the capital, Tunis, blocked off parliament and streets around the central Avenue Bourguiba.
Protesters also stormed Ennahda offices, smashing computers and setting fire to its local headquarters in Touzeur.
