Under the pretext of “fixing constitutional gaps,” Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has overseen a sweeping expansion of presidential powers, backed by a parliamentary majority that has tightened his grip over key political and judicial institutions.

The arrest of pro-regime MP Ahmed al-Saidani over Facebook posts mocking President Kais Saied has reignited debate over parliamentary immunity, free speech and Tunisia’s authoritarian turn.

Tunisia’s families, lawyers, and opposition warn that under President Kais Saied, rising authoritarianism, arbitrary political detentions, and shrinking freedoms threaten the country’s future.

The Algerian presidency has launched a scathing verbal attack on the country’s leading Islamist party, sparking questions about the motives behind the criticism and its ties to the municipal and parliamentary elections set for mid-2026.

Tunisia has been under a near-continuous state of emergency, which President Saied has used to consolidate power, suppress opposition, and restrict freedoms under weak security pretexts.