Save the Date for IFTD event: Thursday, 12 June 2025, Brussels
Tunisia has experienced a significant decline in judicial independence in recent years. In February 2022, President Kais Saied dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council (CSM), an independent body that appointed judges and monitored the judiciary. 1 President Saied replaced the CSM with a provisional judicial council directly controlled by his office, enabling him to appoint and dismiss judges at will. This consolidated executive power over the judicial system, undermined judicial autonomy and violated the separation of powers, a cornerstone of democracy. Judges now face the threat of political reprisal for decisions that go against the executive, which compromises the impartiality necessary for fair trials. The lack of a system to hold the executive accountable for these actions has led to increasing concerns about the judiciary’s ability to function independently.