Tunisia's entrenched presidentialism fuels political crisis and heat‑wave failures

Tunisia's political system has been built around a strong presidency since the 1959 Constitution, concentrating power with the president and limiting parliamentary and judicial checks. Successive leaders—from Bourguiba and Ben Ali to the current president Kais Saïed—have reinforced this model, producing cycles of personalized rule and undermining democratic institutions despite the 2014 constitution’s attempts to share authority among the president, prime minister and parliament.

Five years after the July 2021 power grab by Saïed, a severe heat wave has exposed the fragility of state services. Record temperatures near 50 °C triggered massive electricity demand, grid failures and prolonged blackouts. Hospitals lost oxygen supplies, leading to patient deaths, while food spoilage and water‑distribution breakdowns affected businesses and citizens. Rumors about Saïed’s health have raised questions about succession, highlighting the enormous challenge facing any future leader in restoring governance and service delivery.