Will Tunisia’s parties come together to form a government?

The results of Tunisia’s legislative elections have raised questions about the future government and the alliances that will be formed, as the leading party, Ennahda, failed to receive a majority that would have allowed it to govern parliament.
Supporters of Tunisia's moderate Islamist Ennahda party celebrate, after the party gained most votes in Sunday's parliamentary election, according to an exit poll by Sigma Conseil broadcasted by state television, in Tunis, Tunisia October 6, 2019. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi - RC1569FBC4D0
Supporters of Tunisia's moderate Islamist Ennahda party celebrate Oct. 6, 2019, in Tunis, Tunisia, after exit polls showed the party had won the most votes in the parliamentary election. However, Ennahda did not win enough seats to be able to easily form a coalition government. - REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
AmelalHilali.jpeg
Amel al-Hilali
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TUNIS, Tunisia — Tunisia’s Independent High Authority for Elections announced at a press conference Oct. 9 the results of the legislative elections held three days earlier. Ennahda came in first with 52 seats in parliament, followed by the liberal party Qalb Tounes (Heart of Tunis) with 38 seats. The Democratic Current secured 22 seats and the conservative Dignity Coalition got 21 seats.

Many political leaders have voiced concerns about what they called the dilemma of forming a government in light of the leading party’s inability to obtain a majority — 109 seats out of 217 — and form a government by itself. Ennahda is now forced to seek other alliances to come up with 57 more seats.

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