https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2022/08/17/tunisias-new-constitution-giving-president-kais-saied-wider-powers-comes-into-effect/

The vote in favour of the draft constitution “reflects the will of the Tunisian people and their aspiration to continue on the path of progress and prosperity in the country,” the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“Egypt affirms continuing its support and solidarity with Tunisia to achieve stability and prosperity for the Tunisian brothers within the framework of the extended historic relations and brotherly ties binding the two countries and their brotherly peoples,” the ministry added.

The ministry wished all the best for Tunisia.

Tunisia’s new constitution will come into effect after it is ratified by President Kais Saied as it obtained a 96 percent approval vote in the referendum held in July with a turnout of 31 percent.

The new constitution puts the president in command of the army and allows him to appoint or remove the government without the need for the parliament’s approval.

The referendum came a year after President Saied sacked the government and froze parliament in an unexpected move in July 2021, assuming the country’s executive authorities.

Egypt has repeatedly voiced support for Saied’s moves stating that they “aimed at achieving stability and security and fulfilling the will of the Tunisian people,” calling his measures “historic”.

In May, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly launched the 17th session of the Egyptian-Tunisian Higher Committee during a visit to Tunis, which had inked 11 agreements between both nations in several fields, including health, education, agriculture, and technology.

The Egyptian premier said both sides during the visit agreed that 2022-2023 will be the year of economic cooperation between Egypt and Tunisia.

Last November, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi met with Tunisian Prime Minister Najla Bouden in Paris, during which he affirmed Egypt’s readiness to “harness all available capabilities to help Tunisia achieve security and development.”

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry made official visits to Tunis last year in April and August. In August, Shoukry renewed Egypt’s support for the Tunisian president’s measures and confirmed confidence in his wisdom to lead the country within a sound constitutional path.

Tunisia has also supported Egypt in its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute with Ethiopia, a source of tension between both countries besides Sudan over the past ten years.

In September 2021, the UN Security Council adopted a Tunisia-drafted presidential statement encouraging Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia to resume negotiations to swiftly reach a mutually acceptable and binding agreement on the filling and operation of the mega-dam.

Saied also affirmed that his country would never accept Egypt’s water security to be compromised as he made his first visit to Cairo in April 2021 since he assumed office as president in October 2019.

During his visit to Tunis later in April, the Egyptian FM delivered Saied a message from El-Sisi related to the GERD file, according to the Tunisian presidency.