Rached Ghannouchi, a prominent opposition leader in Tunisia and the former speaker of the country’s parliament, went on a hunger strike, in solidarity with a fellow political prisoner and head of the opposition coalition national salvation front, Ben Mbarek. President Kais saied is accused of oppressing opposition figures who question his regime or leadership, and the world has reacted

Tunisia continues to gag political figures

Tunisia&nbsp;has summoned for questioning the&nbsp;speaker&nbsp;of the dissolved&nbsp;parliament&nbsp;for "conspiracy&nbsp;against state security"&nbsp;after&nbsp;lawmakers met online in the North African nation, a spokesman said Friday.

Rached Ghannouchi, who also heads the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, received a summons on Thursday "to question him about the holding of a plenary meeting", party spokesman Imed Khemiri said.

Ghannouchi, 81, was accused of "having plotted against state security, which is a dangerous precedent", said Khemiri, who was also summoned for the same reasons.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tunisia-speaker-ghannouchi-rejects-parliament-dissolution-467265">&nbsp;Tunisia Speaker Ghannouchi rejects Parliament dissolution</a>

On Thursday, Ghannouchi said at least 30 parliamentarians had been summoned for questioning by anti-terrorism police.

President Kais Saied dissolved&nbsp;parliament&nbsp;on Wednesday, dealing another blow to the political system in place since the North African country's 2011 revolt which sparked the Arab Spring.

It came eight months&nbsp;after&nbsp;he sacked the government, froze&nbsp;parliament&nbsp;and seized sweeping powers, later moving to rule by decree in moves opponents have dubbed a "coup".

The president's announcement on Wednesday evening came hours&nbsp;after&nbsp;parliamentarians held a plenary session online -- their first since Saied's power grab -- and voted through a bill against his "exceptional measures".

Ghannouchi subsequently rejected Saied's dissolution of&nbsp;parliament.

Many Tunisians initially welcomed Saied's moves against political parties ofter seen as self-serving and corrupt.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tunisian-president-kais-saied-condemns-parliament-sessions-as-illegal-466697">Tunisian President Kais Saied condemns parliament sessions as 'illegal'</a>

Many blame Ghannouchi's party Ennahdha -- which has dominated&nbsp;Tunisia's post-revolution politics -- for the political stalemate and economic problems faced over the past decade.

But Saied's moves have prompted accusations that he is taking&nbsp;Tunisia&nbsp;back towards autocracy.

Saied, a former law professor elected in 2019 amid public anger against the political class, has given himself powers to rule and legislate by decree, as well as seizing control over the judiciary.

The&nbsp;parliament&nbsp;building in Tunis has remained closed off and guarded by security forces for the past eight months.

Watch |&nbsp;

Political crisis in Tunisia has intensified as President Kais Saied extends 8-month power grab

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Tunisia has summoned for questioning the speaker of the dissolved parliament for "conspiracy against state security" after lawmakers met online in the North African nation, a spokesman said Friday.

Tunisia has summoned for questioning the speaker of the dissolved parliament for "conspiracy against state security" after lawmakers met online in the North African nation, a spokesman said Friday. Rached Ghannouchi, who also heads the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, received a summons on Thursday "to question him about the holding of a plenary meeting", party spokesman Imed Khemiri said. Ghannouchi, 81, was accused of "having plotted against state security, which is a dangerous precedent", said Khemiri, who was also summoned for the same reasons. Also read | Tunisia Speaker Ghannouchi rejects Parliament dissolution On Thursday, Ghannouchi said at least 30 parliamentarians had been summoned for questioning by anti-terrorism police. President Kais Saied dissolved parliament on Wednesday, dealing another blow to the political system in place since the North African country's 2011 revolt which sparked the Arab Spring. It came eight months after he sacked the government, froze parliament and seized sweeping powers, later moving to rule by decree in moves opponents have dubbed a "coup". The president's announcement on Wednesday evening came hours after parliamentarians held a plenary session online -- their first since Saied's power grab -- and voted through a bill against his "exceptional measures". Ghannouchi subsequently rejected Saied's dissolution of parliament. Many Tunisians initially welcomed Saied's moves against political parties ofter seen as self-serving and corrupt. Also read | Tunisian President Kais Saied condemns parliament sessions as 'illegal' Many blame Ghannouchi's party Ennahdha -- which has dominated Tunisia's post-revolution politics -- for the political stalemate and economic problems faced over the past decade. But Saied's moves have prompted accusations that he is taking Tunisia back towards autocracy. Saied, a former law professor elected in 2019 amid public anger against the political class, has given himself powers to rule and legislate by decree, as well as seizing control over the judiciary. The parliament building in Tunis has remained closed off and guarded by security forces for the past eight months. Watch | Political crisis in Tunisia has intensified as President Kais Saied extends 8-month power grab

Tunisia probes speaker for 'conspiracy' after parliament meets

At least five Tunisian parties plan to launch a vote of no confidence in parliamentary speaker Rached Ghannouchi who has been accused of partisan interests, while members of his moderate Islamist Ennahda party have called for a new government, escalating the country`s political crisis.

The no-confidence motion poses the biggest challenge yet to Ennahda, which first took power following the Arab Spring uprising, but was forced to step down in 2013 after a series of protests.

Pressure on the government has mounted in recent weeks after opponents called for the resignation of Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh over an alleged conflict of interest.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polish-presidential-election-too-close-to-call-incumbent-marginally-ahead-312830">Also read:&nbsp;Polish presidential election too close to call, incumbent marginally ahead</a>

On Sunday, Ennahda, the main party in the ruling coalition, said it supported calls to change the government.

Ennahda said that it wants "to hold talks to form a strong new government because this government lost credibility after suspicion of conflict of interest involving the prime minister," Imed Khmiri a senior official in Ennahda told Reuters.

Fakhfakh has rejected accusations of corruption after an independent member of parliament published documents last month indicating that companies the prime minister owns shares in had won deals worth 44 million dinars ($15 million) from the state.

Mohammed Ammar from Attayar party, said that a group of parliamentary blocs agreed to start the process of withdrawing confidence from the speaker, citing numerous violations, poor management and unilateral decisions that serve partisan interests.

These blocs include the Tahya Tounes, Attayar, Chaab and Reform parties, which are in the coalition with Ennahda. 
The Free Constitutional party led by Abir Moussi, a supporter of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali overthrown by the 2011 revolution, has campaigned to oust Ghannouchi for weeks.

Moussi`s party accused Ghannouchi of serving the Muslim Brotherhood’s agenda and foreign allies, including Turkey and Qatar.

Ghannouchi has rejected these accusations, arguing that Tunisians want a government focused on economic and social policy, not political in-fighting.

Procedures for withdrawing confidence require the signature of 73 members of the house for it to be put to a public vote. To succeed, 109 lawmakers will need to vote for no-confidence.

The five parties have about 90 members.

At least five Tunisian parties plan to launch a vote of no confidence in parliamentary speaker Rached Ghannouchi who has been accused of partisan interests, while members of his moderate Islamist Ennahda party have called for a new government, escalating the country`s political crisis.

At least five Tunisian parties plan to launch a vote of no confidence in parliamentary speaker Rached Ghannouchi who has been accused of partisan interests, while members of his moderate Islamist Ennahda party have called for a new government, escalating the country`s political crisis. The no-confidence motion poses the biggest challenge yet to Ennahda, which first took power following the Arab Spring uprising, but was forced to step down in 2013 after a series of protests. Pressure on the government has mounted in recent weeks after opponents called for the resignation of Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh over an alleged conflict of interest. Also read: Polish presidential election too close to call, incumbent marginally ahead On Sunday, Ennahda, the main party in the ruling coalition, said it supported calls to change the government. Ennahda said that it wants "to hold talks to form a strong new government because this government lost credibility after suspicion of conflict of interest involving the prime minister," Imed Khmiri a senior official in Ennahda told Reuters. Fakhfakh has rejected accusations of corruption after an independent member of parliament published documents last month indicating that companies the prime minister owns shares in had won deals worth 44 million dinars ($15 million) from the state. Mohammed Ammar from Attayar party, said that a group of parliamentary blocs agreed to start the process of withdrawing confidence from the speaker, citing numerous violations, poor management and unilateral decisions that serve partisan interests. These blocs include the Tahya Tounes, Attayar, Chaab and Reform parties, which are in the coalition with Ennahda. The Free Constitutional party led by Abir Moussi, a supporter of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali overthrown by the 2011 revolution, has campaigned to oust Ghannouchi for weeks. Moussi`s party accused Ghannouchi of serving the Muslim Brotherhood’s agenda and foreign allies, including Turkey and Qatar. Ghannouchi has rejected these accusations, arguing that Tunisians want a government focused on economic and social policy, not political in-fighting. Procedures for withdrawing confidence require the signature of 73 members of the house for it to be put to a public vote. To succeed, 109 lawmakers will need to vote for no-confidence. The five parties have about 90 members.

Tunisian parties seek to oust parliament speaker, Islamists want new government