Several Tunisian lawmakers have recently stepped up criticism of the performance of President Kais Saied and the government, highlighting deteriorating living conditions, repeated power and water outages, the absence of some government officials from parliamentary sessions, and the continued challenges facing the country’s economy and society.

The criticism, which became more visible during parliamentary sessions on July 27 and 31, has raised questions over whether some lawmakers who previously supported Saied’s political path are reconsidering their positions. Others, however, view the statements as political maneuvers in anticipation of possible shifts in the balance of power.

Growing frustration

Mohamed Ali, a lawmaker from the National Sovereignty Front bloc, said that the rise in criticism inside parliament reflects growing frustration after patience had “run out.”

He said that some lawmakers had previously believed the transitional phase required more time to address national challenges, but the absence of visible reforms had led to increasing criticism both inside and outside parliament.

Ali criticized government borrowing policies, warning that they could have future consequences for several sectors. He also said authorities had failed to provide reassurance to citizens during the electricity crisis, adding that many Tunisians are struggling with poverty, water shortages, and declining purchasing power.

He argued that under Tunisia’s current presidential system, responsibility falls on the executive authority, with President Kais Saied being the primary figure accountable for government performance.

Ali added that criticism within parliament had increased and that acknowledging problems was necessary for reform, arguing that presidential visits and statements alone would not solve the country’s challenges without practical solutions.

Calls for government resignation

Nouri Jridi, deputy speaker of Tunisia’s parliament responsible for oversight affairs, called during a parliamentary session on July 27 for the immediate dismissal of the current government.

He accused successive governments of repeating unsuccessful approaches that had failed to create economic growth or reduce dependence on external pressures.

Jridi also warned President Saied that what he described as mismanagement had reached a level that could threaten social stability.

Meanwhile, Ali Zaghdoud, a lawmaker from the “Let the People Triumph” bloc, said some parliamentarians had chosen to criticize government performance and voice citizens’ concerns over stalled development projects and weak economic results.

He pointed to recent crises, including electricity shortages, saying that government officials responsible for relevant sectors failed to attend parliamentary discussions despite being invited.

Zaghdoud said parliament lacks sufficient information about government plans and that citizens are not seeing tangible results, adding that any government unable to communicate openly with the public should step aside.

He also suggested that some lawmakers may have reviewed their previous positions after realizing that defending government policies was no longer beneficial, while others had maintained a critical stance from the beginning.

Debate over political motives

Wessam Al-Saghir, spokesperson for the Republican Party, said the growing criticism inside parliament reflects the depth of Tunisia’s economic and political crisis, which has begun affecting even supporters of the current authorities.

He questioned whether the criticism represents a genuine reassessment of positions or merely an attempt to absorb public anger and prepare for potential political changes.

Al-Saghir said he believed the second explanation was more likely.

Lawmaker Hassan Al-Jarboui also criticized the current situation, saying politicians had reached a point where they were trying to convince citizens of ideas they themselves did not believe in to prevent further deterioration.

He argued that presidential speeches were disconnected from reality, saying the country’s problems were not caused by conspiracies but by rigid policies that require acknowledgment of failure and a willingness to seek alternatives.