Tunisia’s Ennahda sets new gov’t agenda to evade public, political rejection

Mohamed Abdel-Ghaffar

Tunisian Ennahda Movement, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, has finally realized that tough situation it has put itself into, especially after a number of consecutive crises, including losing presidential elections and a political rejection to its participation in the new government.

Ennahda spokesman Emad Khemiri announced at a press conference on Saturday, that the document is a contract that must be signed between all Tunisian political components, in order to participate in the new government.

The spokesman of the Tunisian Muslim Brotherhood said that this document is a gesture in the history of Tunisia, where talks on the program of the government begin before the selection of its members, hoping that the crisis would end soon.

All parties refused to respond to initial discussions requests from Ennahda, and refused to participate in the next government. The Heart of Tunisia and the Free Constitutional parties issued early statements announcing their refusal to participate in the new government.

The Heart of Tunisia party received 38 seats and the Free Constitutional Party won 17 seats.

The two parties said that they completely refuse any communication with Ennahda to form the government because of its “association with organizations and individuals related to terrorist crimes around the world.”

The parties further called on all parties to struggle to uncover the file of political assassinations and slaughter of soldiers under the Troika era and beyond.

After the Tunisian parties refused to cooperate with Ennahda in forming a government, the terrorist wing of the Muslim Brotherhood in Tunisia announced the issuance of an agreement document, aiming to help form a “competent government.”

Ennahda will have one month to form a government after being officially asked to do so by the newly elected president, former law professor Kais Saied.

If Ennahda is unable to form a government within that time, the party has the option to request another month’s extension before the task falls to the president.

Ennahda document sets several points, most notably the government’s focus on combating corruption, poverty, enhancing security, increasing investments, establishing local governance, and developing education and public services.

Moreover, Qalb Tounes leader Nabil Karoui, the presidential run-off candidate who spent the bulk of the electoral period in jail on corruption charges, blamed Ennahda for both his detention as well as many of the long-term challenges, such as rural poverty, that continue to blight Tunisia.