Tunisia: After nearly two weeks of not appearing in public, Tunisia's President Kais Saied dismissed "crazy" reports about his health in a video posted on his official Facebook page on Monday.
The main opposition group in the North African nation had previously demanded an explanation from the government for Syed's apparent "absence" from public life, claiming he was ill.
About his political opponents, Syed said in the video, "These people deserve nothing but contempt." "The absence of the President for two to three days due to cold leads to power outages,"
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According to the post on Facebook, which serves as the only official means of communication for the presidency, 65-year-old Sayed has not held any meetings or made any public appearances since March 22.
Syed's health has been the subject of rumors due to the lack of statements or videos. The president claimed that the reports revealed a "level of insanity never before seen in Tunisia", speaking with Prime Minister Najla Bouden.
We call on the government to address the Tunisian people and say whether the president has health problems that force him to be absent, Ahmed Najib Chebbi of the National Salvation Front opposition coalition told reporters earlier on Monday.
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In the event of a brief power vacuum, according to Chebbi, Bowden would lead Tunisia; However, a long-term void due to the lack of legislation would cause "great devastation" for the nation. In his video, Syed claimed that those who cite power shortage are "trying to create a crisis."
He declared, "These people have lost the plot, they are power-crazy." Syed, who dramatically seized control in July 2021 and has since ruled by decree, rammed through a constitution that gave his office unrestricted authority and rendered parliament ineffective last year.
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Security forces have detained more than 20 public figures since February, including influential opposition leaders. Those targeted include members of the former dominant Ennahda party of Islamist origins, political activists, lawyers, businessmen and the host of a popular radio station known for broadcasting anti-presidential commentary. Syed also called them "terrorists", allegedly planning attacks on the state.