On July 25, Tunisians will vote on the new constitution drafted by President Kais Saied. The constitutional referendum comes during a difficult economic and political period in Tunisia. Economically, the country is reeling from high inflation, spiking unemployment, as well as sharply elevated commodity prices, and is in desperate need of an IMF deal—which the Tunisian government is currently negotiating. Politically, Kais Saied threw the country’s entire structure into chaos one year ago by suspending parliament and subsequently dissolving the legislature and suspending the constitution, which he has now redrawn to reflect a hyper-presidential system.

Please join the Middle East Institute on Thursday, July 21, at 10:00 a.m. EDT, for a panel on the details of the new constitution, the opposition’s reaction to it, and what it means for Tunisia’s political future.

Speakers

Zaid Al-Ali
Senior Advisor, Constitution-Building for the Arab Region, International IDEA

Mouna Ben Halima
Founder and CEO, Hotel La Badira in Hammamet

Rafik Halouani
General Coordinator, Mourakiboun

Intissar Fakir, moderator
Senior Fellow and Director, North Africa and Sahel Program, MEI