Kais Saied's Divine Mission for Tunisia's Future

In Tunisia, President Kais Saied, who was elected in 2019, has taken significant steps to consolidate power since staging a power grab in 2021. He has dismissed three prime ministers and rewritten the constitution to establish a one-man rule, drawing comparisons to previous authoritarian regimes in the country. Saied perceives his actions as a 'divine mission' to fulfill the people's will, often alleging foreign interference and plotting against his government. His leadership style is characterized by limited public engagement, preferring monologues in classical Arabic shared on social media. Despite his claims of a revolutionary agenda, critics argue that his governance resembles that of former leaders Ben Ali and Bourguiba, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic principles in Tunisia. Saied's conservative views on social issues and his rejection of international financial assistance further complicate the political landscape, as Tunisia navigates economic challenges and seeks to maintain its strategic partnerships with the United States and France.