President Kais Saied ran as an independent candidate with broad political support and popular appeal to win the presidential election in 2019. With economic conditions not improving, protests were dealt with in a heavy-handed manner, and then in July 2021 Saied suspended parliament and dismissed the Prime Minister. A year later a new constitution was adopted through a referendum (30% turnout) and December 2022 elections recorded the lowest turnout in history (9%). With opposition figures being imprisoned and media pressured, most fear that Tunisia is returning to a pre-Arab Spring type rule.