2021 Tunisian self-coup

2021 Tunisian self-coup
Part of Arab Winter
Above: an anti-coup demonstration, Tunis, 10 October 2021 Below: a pro−Saied demonstration, Tunis, 3 October 2021
Date	25 July 2021
Location	Tunisia
Caused by	Protests against the Mechichi Cabinet Collapse of the healthcare system due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Resulted in	Coup successful President Kais Saied dismisses the government of Hichem Mechichi and dissolves the Assembly of the Representatives of the People and the Supreme Judicial Council Najla Bouden is appointed Prime Minister and forms a new government. A new constitution is adopted in a referendum with expanded presidential powers Boycott of subsequent parliamentary election Judicial proceedings initiated against Saied's opponents
Parties
President of Tunisia Tunisian Armed Forces Tunisian National Guard 25th of July Movement People's Movement Parliament of Tunisia National Salvation Front Ennahda Dignity Coalition Republican Party
Lead figures
Kais Saied (President of Tunisia, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces) Najla Bouden (Prime Minister of Tunisia) Rached Ghannouchi (Speaker of the Parliament, Leader of Ennahdha) Hichem Mechichi (Dismissed Prime Minister of Tunisia)

The 2021 Tunisian self-coup took place on 25 July 2021, when Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed the government of Hichem Mechichi, suspended the Assembly of the Representatives of the People and revoked the immunity of its members. Described as a self-coup, the move came after a period of political instability marked by a series of protests against the Ennahda-backed government and the collapse of the Tunisian healthcare system amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

The day after the self-coup, Saied imposed a month-long curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. After the 30-day period expired, Saied extended the period of his measures "until further notice". In October, Najla Bouden was appointed to head a new government, making her the first female prime minister both in Tunisia and the Arab world. In July 2022, a new constitution expanding the president's powers was adopted after a referendum boycotted by over two-thirds of voters, paving the way for parliamentary elections in December 2022 and January 2023 which were also boycotted by a large sector of the population.