Tunisian president to change judicial council, rejects foreign criticism

FILE PHOTO: Tunisian presidential candidate Kais Saied reacts after exit poll results were announced in a second round runoff of the presidential election in Tunis, Tunisia October 13, 2019. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi//File Photo

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisian President Kais Saied will change the Supreme Judicial Council but not abolish it, the justice minister said on Wednesday, days after the president stated his plan to dissolve the body met intense criticism, including from Western donors whose help is needed to avert a crisis in public finances.

The president, however, said later in the day that he rejected "foreign interference" following the widespread criticism after he announced plans on Sunday to dissolve the body that guarantees judicial independence.