Islamist, secularist rivals clash as Tunisian government takes shape
Tunisia's incoming prime minister is including various political parties in talks on forming the new government, but his inclusion of the liberal secular party Qalb Tounes has irritated the dominant Ennahda faction.
TUNIS — Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Habib Jemli officially kicked off consultations with political parties Nov. 15 to form his new government. Jemli was nominated to his post by the Ennahda Movement, the party with the largest number of seats in parliament (54 of 217).
On Nov. 22, Jemli held consultations with the liberal secular party Qalb Tounes (Heart of Tunisia), the second largest party with 38 seats. The meetings sparked controversy as Ennahda head Rachid Ghannouchi had said that Qalb Tounes would not become part of the government over suspicions of corruption among some of its leaders.
Ali Laarayedh, deputy head of Ennahda, told Al-Monitor that his party, which has been in power for eight years, is determined to stay in power and is ready to consult with all the winning parties, except those accused of corruption. Nabil Karoui, the founder of Qalb Tounes was imprisoned on Aug. 23 on money laundering charges.
In the 2014 elections, Ennahda came in second in parliament after Nidaa Tounes. The two movements formed a government together but their consensus ended by the end of 2018. Following the Oct. 8, 2018 breakaway of numerous Nidaa Tounes lawmakers who formed their own parties such as Machrouu Tounes, Amal Tounes and Long Live Tunisia, Ennahda returned to power in parliament.
