Tunisian president calls for constitutional amendment

By Adel al-Thabeti

TUNIS (AA) - Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi on Wednesday called for amending the country's constitution for what he called "differences in interpretation of some chapters."

Essebsi was speaking at the Carthage Palace on the occasion of 63rd anniversary of Tunisia's independence from France in 1956.

"I have a ready-made version of the constitutional amendment proposals," Essebsi said, without giving more details.

He attributed the need for this amendment to "differences in the interpretation of some chapters of the constitution, and this problem must be resolved."

He went on to note that the last government "was formed without consulting the president after an agreement reached between the prime minister and Ennahda movement -- largest Islamic party."

Last November, the parliament voted by an absolute majority to grant confidence to a Cabinet reshuffle proposed by Prime Minister Youssef Chahed without holding consultations with the president.

"It was not correct to go to parliament (to ask for confidence) without going through the president," he said.

According to the Article 71 of the Tunisian constitution, the executive authority shall be exercised by the president of the republic and a government headed by a prime minister.

Early last year, the Nidaa Tounes party suffered an internal crisis between Essebsi -- the party's founder -- and Chahed, with the two accusing each other of harming the party’s interests.