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.
Rached Ghannouchi, leader of Tunisia's moderate Islamist Ennahda Party attends a news conference in Tunis, Tunisia September 27, 2019. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi - RC17C419DBC0
Rachid Ghannouchi, leader of Tunisia's moderate Islamist Ennahda Party, attends a news conference in Tunis, Tunisia, Sept. 27, 2019. - REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
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Mohamed Ali Ltifi
@MohamedAliLtifi
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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.

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