Tunisian people enjoy drinks at the outdoor area of a cafe in Tunis, Tunisia, June 8, 2020. Tunisian President Kais Saied decided Monday to lift the curfew across the country. (Photo by Adel Ezzine/Xinhua)

Tunisian President Kais Saied announced Sunday the suspension of parliament and dismissal of Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi following a day of protests against the ruling party, which condemned the move as a "coup d'etat."

Earlier Sunday, thousands of Tunisians had marched in several cities protesting against the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, criticizing what they said were government failures in the North African nation and a crippling coronavirus surge.

After Saied announced parliament's suspension following an emergency meeting at his palace, the sounds of car horns and fireworks filled the streets.

In Tunis, hundreds defied a coronavirus curfew to congregate on the capital's roads. 

"Finally some good decisions!" Maher, celebrating in the city's northwest, told AFP.

Thirty-something Nahla, brandishing a Tunisian flag, was jubilant. "These are courageous decisions - Saied is unblocking Tunisia," she told AFP. "This is the president we love!"

Since Saied was elected president in 2019, he has been locked in a showdown with Mechichi and parliament speaker Rached Ghannouchi, a rivalry that has blocked ministerial appointments and diverted resources from tackling Tunisia's many economic and social problems.

"We are navigating the most delicate moments in the history of Tunisia," Saied said Sunday. 

He said the constitution did not allow for the dissolution of parliament, but did allow him to suspend it, citing Article 80 which permits it in case of "imminent danger."

In a later Facebook post, he clarified that the suspension would be for 30 days. 

"I have taken the necessary decisions to save Tunisia, the state and the Tunisian people," he added.