Thousands of citizens marched through the capital of Tunisia to voice their strong discontent with the rule of President Kais Saied, citing deteriorating living standards and mounting restrictions on political freedoms. Saturday's demonstration in Tunis emerged as the largest anti-government mobilization in years, briefly bridging longstanding divisions among fragmented opposition groups.

The rally was spearheaded by the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), alongside various opposition parties and civil society organizations. Protesters gathered along the prominent Habib Bourguiba Avenue in central Tunis, while a heavy police presence was deployed across the capital to monitor the crowds. Estimates suggested thousands participated, though figures could not be independently verified.

The diverse crowd—comprising lawyers, doctors, journalists, and unemployed citizens—demanded the immediate release of detained government critics and the rollback of restrictions on trade union activities. Placards carried by demonstrators featured slogans such as 'No democracy without freedoms' and 'No dignity with poverty', reflecting a deep-seated frustration with the political status quo.

Beyond political grievances, the protesters expressed intense anger over skyrocketing prices for basic goods, chronic shortages of essential items, and recurring disruptions to water and electricity services. Speakers at the rally criticized the heavy concentration of executive power within the presidency, arguing that economic mismanagement and curtailed freedoms have made daily life increasingly unsustainable.

Source: www.aljazeera.com