Thousands of people marched through Tunis on Saturday, October 17, to protest President Kais Saied’s policies and call for stronger protections for civil liberties. Demonstrators also demanded the president’s resignation.
The march began outside the headquarters of the Tunisian General Labour Union, known as UGTT, and was organised by the union together with civil society organisations and political parties. Participants travelled through the capital before gathering outside the municipal theatre. Supporters of several political groups, including the People’s Movement, Ennahda Movement and National Salvation Front, joined the demonstration.
At the closing rally, UGTT Secretary-General Salah Eddine Salmi urged Tunisians to unite in defending rights and freedoms. He warned that limiting dialogue could push political debate into streets and public squares.
Some participants cited both political and economic concerns. A secondary-school teacher who attended said he was worried about what he viewed as shrinking space for free expression, as well as the rising cost of living and its effect on ordinary households.
The protest brought together groups with different political backgrounds around shared calls for accountability, dialogue and civil liberties. The demonstration was one of the most visible public challenges to Saied’s leadership in recent months. The protest organisers’ demands and criticism reflect their position; the march itself does not establish the allegations raised against the government.
