; Whereas President Essebsi faced many difficult challenges, including economic turmoil, terrorist attacks, and public expectations for change; Whereas public disillusionment with the country’s political elites increased amid continued corruption and devastating acts of terrorism that severely hurt the tourism industry and larger economy; Whereas political outsider and constitutional law professor Kais Saied won the presidential election held on October 13, 2019, and was sworn into office 10 days later in a peaceful transfer of power; Whereas, by 2021, protests in response to worsening economic conditions, further exacerbated by the COVID–19 pandemic, occurred across cities in Tunisia, to which the police responded violently; Whereas, in July 2021, President Saied capitalized on unrest to unilaterally seize power by— (1) dismissing Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi; (2) suspending Parliament for 30 days; and (3) assuming full executive authority without first consulting the government; Whereas, in late 2021, President Saied indefinitely suspended Parliament and transferred all legislative powers to himself; Whereas, in early 2022, President Saied continued to undermine Tunisia’s democratic institutions, including by taking control of the Independent High Authority for Elections and dissolving the High Judicial Council; Whereas, in July 2022, President Saied unilaterally put to a referendum a new draft constitution, which— (1) consolidated power to the presidency; (2) limited parliamentary authority; and (3) diminished judicial independence; Whereas the new draft constitution was approved despite remarkably low voter turnout and heavy domestic and international criticism surrounding the lack of genuine debate throughout the drafting process; Whereas, between 2021 to 2023, Tunisia experienced— (1) a dramatic drop in voter participation and public confidence in the political process; and (2) an escalation in politically motivated arrests of political opponents, judges, lawyers, journalists, and business leaders