TUNIS — Tunisia’s military had for decades adhered to remaining outside the political arena, but in a first for the country, retired commanders and officers of the Tunisian Armed Forces in early July announced the official establishment of a political party, Halumou li Tunis (Acting Together for Tunisia or Agissons pour La Tunisie). On July 29, Halumou li Tunis issued a statement on Facebook announcing that it had submitted lists to run in 17 electoral districts across 17 governorates in the legislative elections scheduled for Oct. 6.

Speaking to Al-Monitor before the July 29 posting, Mustafa Saheb at-Tabea, party chairman and a former high-ranking military officer, had said, “We obtained a permit, and we are determined and serious in our preparations to run on the lists in the legislative election in Tunisia’s 24 governorates.”

Tabea underlined that the idea behind setting up a party, whose formation was announced July 10, was specifically intended to end the tradition of distancing the military from politics, as had been the case since independence, in 1956. At the same time, he emphasized that the party is open to everyone and asserted that having former military commanders enter the political and partisan arena does not mean that the military as an institution has deviated from its historical neutrality.

“We will be working on harnessing national values and sense of belonging, which we were raised on in the military,” Tabea said, also explaining that his party’s political bureau, composed of three retired officers, is currently working on an election strategy to ensure that the party attracts representation in all parts of the country.