There was a heavy police presence in part of the Tunisian capital on Friday morning as hundreds took to the streets to mark the 11th anniversary of the start of the revolution which saw the downfall of former President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali and sparked the Arab spring.
According to local media, opposition parties had called for mass protests on Friday, in a stand against recent measures announced by President Kais Saied. It was gathered that some of the president’s supporters were also present.
Reporters also disclosed that Saied was elected in a landslide in 2019 promising to stand up against corruption, but has since caused controversy after he suspended parliament.
In a televised national address on Monday, Saied also said parliament would remain suspended until fresh elections in a year’s time.
Earlier this month Saied switched the official anniversary of the revolution from 14 January to 17 December – the day in 2010 when a Tunisian street vendor set himself on fire.
