1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Safeguarding Tunisian Democracy Act of 2023 . 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) In 2010 and 2011, waves of anti-government protests and violence reshaped governments across the Middle East and North Africa. (2) While other countries in the Middle East and North Africa experienced violent crackdown, rapid changes in government, or descent into civil war, Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution saw the ouster of autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and the emergence of a nascent, growing democracy. (3) On October 14, 2019, Tunisians overwhelmingly elected Kais Saied, a constitutional law professor, as President based on his pledges to combat corruption and improve Tunisia’s economic outlook. (4) On July 25, 2021, President Saied unilaterally suspended parliament and dismissed the Prime Minister, citing exceptional circumstances and Article 80 of the 2014 constitution. (5) On September 22, 2021, President Saied issued Presidential Decree 117, consolidating full executive and legislative powers within the presidency and authorizing further decrees regulating the judiciary, media, political parties, electoral law, freedoms and human rights. (6) On February 6, 2022, President Saied dissolved the Supreme Judicial Council, eliminating an independent judiciary. (7) On March 30, 2022, President Saied officially dissolved parliament, further consolidating power and eliminating checks and balances on the presidency. (8) On June 30, 2022, President Saied unilaterally introduced a new draft constitution, subject to a referendum, consolidating broad powers under executive rule. (9) On July 25, 2022, Saied claimed victory in a constitutional referendum widely criticized for its lack of credibility and participation. (10) On September 13, 2022, President Saied announced Presidential Decree 2022–54 on Cybercrime, imposing prison terms for false information or rumors online and crippling free speech. (11) On September 15, 2022, President Saied announced Presidential