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Tunisian judges start week-long strike saying judicial system is under threat

6 June 2022

On Monday (6 June), the Tunisian Association of Judges called a week-long nationwide strike after President Kaïs Saïed sacked 57 judges last Wednesday. The president justified his initiative claiming the need to clean up the judicial sector of all forms of corruption.

Among the judges dismissed last week by Saied was the former head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Youssef Bouzacker.

Before Saied replaced most of the council's members earlier this year, the Supreme judicial council had guaranteed judicial independence since Tunisia's 2011 revolution.

In addition to the week-long general strike, the judges have called for a demonstration on Wednesday, 8 June.

Saied's purge of the judiciary has drawn international attention. Washington accused him of eroding Tunisia's democratic institutions.

U.S. officials expressed concern to their Tunisian counterparts about the growing lack of checks and balances in the Tunisian governing system.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price called on Tunisia to pursue an inclusive and transparent reform process, with the participation of civil society.

Mr Saied, who earlier also replaced the independent electoral commission, said he would present a new constitution this month, however he is now facing widespread opposition to his measures.

Saturday (4 June) saw street protests against the start of negotiations on the new constitution, which the opposition sees as an attempt by President Saied to consolidate his grip on power.

While the president has pledged to hold a referendum on 25 July to approve the new constitution, discussions on drafting the constitution will be heated. The talks are off-limits to the main political parties, including the Islamist Ennahda Party and the Free Destourian Party, both of which have called for demonstrations this week. One of the country's most powerful trade unions, the UGTT, has boycotted the talks, and has also called for a nationwide strike on 16 June after the government refused to raise wages.

A draft of the new constitution is due to be presented to Saied on June 20.

Sources: CommonSpace.eu with RFI (Île-de-France), Reuters (London) and other media outlets

Picture: A woman holds up a banner during a protest against Tunisian President Kais Saied in Tunis, Tunisia, on May 15, 2022. Twitter: @i24NEWS_EN

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Council of Europe launches new International Claims Commission for Ukraine

17 December 2025

Thirty-four countries and the European Union have signed a new convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine at a diplomatic conference co-hosted by the 46-nation Council of Europe and the Netherlands in the Hague. The diplomatic conference was attended by leaders and high-level representatives from over 50 states, including the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dick Schoof. “Today marks a major step forward in ensuring accountability for Ukraine. The International Claims Commission represents justice and hope for tens of thousands of victims—our determination that those who have suffered will not be forgotten. I call for quick ratifications so we can get the commission rapidly up and running for the people of Ukraine,” said Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: “We expect that every mechanism for compensation from the Register of Damage and Claims Commission to the actual payments – will start working and receive strong and sufficient international support, so that people can truly feel that any kind of damage caused by the war can be compensated. This war, and Russia’s responsibility for it, MUST become a clear example – so that others learn not to choose aggression.” “Accountability is about creating the conditions for peace that endures. And therefore, accountability is a condition of security – today and for the future. But accountability is not only about Ukraine. And it is not only about one aggressor and one victim. Accountability is about Europe. About every country in Europe. It is about whether Europe, as a whole, is willing to defend its peace,” said Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dick Schoof, said: “Every day Russia is deliberately bombarding homes, destroying businesses and damaging infrastructure in Ukraine. Russia must compensate Ukraine for the damage caused. That is why we have launched the International Claims Commission for Ukraine and we are honoured to host it.” The International Claims Commission will be the second part of a comprehensive compensation mechanism related to Russia’s war of aggression, building on the existing Register of Damage for Ukraine. The claims commission will be established within the framework of the Council of Europe and will also be open to other countries. The Register of Damage for Ukraine, created in 2023, collects and records compensation claims submitted by individuals, organisations and public bodies in Ukraine. Forty-four states and the European Union have so far joined the Register, which has already received 86,000 claims. The International Claims Commission will review, assess and decide upon claims submitted to the Register of Damage for Ukraine and determine the amount of compensation, if any, which is due in each case. The convention establishing the commission will enter into force once it has been ratified by 25 signatories, as long as sufficient funds have been secured to support its initial work.

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