TUNIS — Amid concerns that a planned electoral conference of Ennahda's Shura Council might be postponed, Abdullatif Mekki, a member of the council, called for expediting the meeting, scheduled to be held in May 2020, four years after the 10th conference in May 2016. The party's 11th electoral conference will select a new leader of the movement, it was announced Dec. 12. 

Mekki accused Ennahda’s current leader, Rachid Ghannouchi, of not being able to fulfill his duties as head of the movement while also serving as parliament speaker. Ghannouchi was elected speaker in November to serve from 2019 to 2024. Mekki, a member of Ennahda's reformist wing, pointed to a clause in Ennahda’s bylaws stipulating that its president must be dedicated to his duties as head of the movement. Mekki said that should he be nominated to succeed Ghannouchi nothing would stop him from running.

Chapter 31 of Ennahda’s bylaws limits the party leader to no more than two consecutive terms. After registering as a political party following the toppling of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, Ennahda elected Ghannouchi to head the movement for two consecutive four-year terms, from 2012 to 2020. Prior to that, in 1991, Ennahda had been prohibited from political activity following accusations that its leaders were allegedly trying to overthrow the government.

Shura Council member Mohammed bin Salem told Al-Monitor that the time has come to inject new blood into the movement’s leadership, calling the May meeting a turning point with Ghannouchi stepping down. He also expressed concern, however, that Ghannouchi might remain Ennahda's leader.