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2011-12-30

Tunisian opposition parties may join forces

By Houda Trabelsi for Magharebia in Tunis – 30/12/11

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Leaders from Tunisia's four main opposition parties met outside of Tunis earlier this week to discuss plans for a possible alliance of centrist and centre-left political groups.

The grouping includes the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), Afek Tounes, the Modernist Democratic Pole (PDM), Ettajdid and other opposition forces, both with and without representation in the Constituent Assembly. They were joined at the December 26th conference by several newcomers, including a party established by former interim Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi.

"The political map today involves an imbalance of power and doesn't reflect the real condition of the Tunisian society that is keen on the gains of an independent state," according to Jounaidi Abd Jawed, a member of the political bureau of Ettajdid Movement. Speaking at a seminar on joint political action in Monastir, he said Tunisia needs to build a modern, progressive, democratic and popular entity.

Abd Jalil Badoui, leader of the Tunisian Labour Party, called for unifying the parties because they embrace the same open, democratic, and modern social project. He stressed the need for an opposition to shadow authority so that Tunisians have an alternative in case they are not satisfied with the incumbent authority.

The current political situation "doesn't allow for rotation of power", according to Yassin Brahim, executive manager of Afek Tounes. Brahim noted that there was a nationwide debate to form a centrist political force over stages involving many parties that are not represented in the Constituent Assembly.

"The mechanisms for convergence between these parties are still open," said Maher Hanin, a member of the PDP executive bureau. He said that their unification would reflect positively on society, stressing the need to renounce minor differences.

The opposition parties seek to form a strong unified front that will compete to win most of the seats in the next legislative election, which may be held in the second two months of 2013 once the second transitional period in Tunisia has been completed.

The October 23rd election produced a major victory for the Islamist Ennahda Movement, which won a plurality of Constituent Assembly seats after garnering 40% of the vote. Ennahda then formed a tripartite coalition with Ettakatol and the Congress for the Republic (CPR) to govern Tunisia during the transition.

"The government's performance has so far been poor, and this is clear from the appointments of ministers that I believe are not correct," commented citizen Moez al-Morali. "Therefore, forming an opposition front is important to bring things back to the right track," noting that "the opposition will play the role of monitor of this government so that it may not deviate from its right course."

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    Mongy-gafsi 2012-1-11

    To Anonymous- Do not take the Tunisians for simpletons. Everyone knows that these elections were rigged and manipulated from abroad by those who have no qualms about what is good for our people and who denigrate Islam and the Muslims on a daily basis to the point that Islamophobia against our brothers in the West has become violent. Meanwhile, they finance Ennahda and the other Islamist parties in the Muslim countries! This foreign financing is perverting the democracy that they talk our ears off about with their doublespeak. There you have it: crippling fraud and vice, which taints these elections and prevents the true democratic process from functioning. So, we understand well that rushing things suits you, but that will only lead to chaos. The majority of Tunisians hold to their Islamic identity and can tell the difference between that which is sacred and should remain so and that which is political and is the modus for managing the material interests of this lowly world. You are not credible enough to convince them of the pertinence of your amalgam of religion and politics, which is completely out-dated in the 21st Century, where a modern, multicultural nation-state is the norm in a world that is globalising in spite of the multifaceted and legitimate refusal and resistance of the peoples. The latter are the sovereign expression of these nation-states, who know that they have everything to lose from this globalisation, which is made for the gain of the dominators and the despoilers, who pauperise and subject them further. You do not have the independence to work in the interests of the people and your commanders are hostile to the progress of our people because it is contradictory to their hegemonic interests. So, Ennahda has nothing to offer to the Tunisians, and in spite of your campaign to charm them – since you have the means – 80% of the people know this perfectly! Long live free Tunisia!

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    Khmaîs 2012-1-8

    To Bachir Hanini- What do you think about Israel and the USA funding Ennahda? Do this sponsors love Islam so much? Or do they love Ennahda in particular? What is the roadmap that has been imposed on them in return? What do you think of the Westerners’ support of the Islamist parties during this famous “Arab spring” when they are openly Islamophobes? Do none of these questions preoccupy you before giving your trust to a party? What is the basis for your trust in Ennahda? –Thank you!

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    bachir hanini 2012-1-4

    The majority of the people trust Ennahda movement, Congress Party and disavow the unsuccessful opposition which didn’t and won’t help the people except with fitna and infiltration for the enemies of dear Tunisia. No, no, no, how can they help the people? If only they would leave the assembly and receive their salaries. Members of Ennahda have proven their competency from the first week. We all support them and trust them. We assure you if they weren’t deceived by offers of former regime, we won’t be afraid of them. They supported prison and satisfied their conscience.

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    bosman 2012-1-1

    I don't like the expression "To oppose En Nahdha"! The future coalition aim is to set a democratic and solid front for the coming elections with no impact of religion on politics! So, there is no opposition of any kind! Besides if the current government does well, keeps promises etc... then, there won't be any threat to the Troïka!

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    Anonymous 2011-12-30

    This is party politics at its basest level. This is pure and simple sabotage and it has nothing to do with democracy. After 55 years of tyranny and a mafia government, Tunisia is having some difficulty finding its path and re-building what the dictator destroyed. But what are these so-called opponents doing? Their first concern is to put sticks in the spokes of the provisional government, which was appointed for one year. The only cause is vengeance because they lost the elections. They hardly care about the exceptional circumstances that the country is in and that demand that the interests of the nation take precedence of those of parties and individuals. Their manipulations are only leading to delays in drafting a constitution, which Tunisia is in great need of, and in drawing out the transitional period of the government. Instead of addressing the urgent problems of the people, the government has to waste its time countering the low blows and conspiring from this so-called opposition. These maniacs played no role in the revolution, but now they are getting huge salaries, which allow them to spend their time conspiring without a care for the fate of the victims of the old regime who brought the dictatorship down. When, at the last straw, Ben Ali tried to save his government by making last-minute concession, Chebbi jumped at the opportunity to support him, hoping to become a minister. If the protesters had listened to him, Ben Ali would still be in power. After the dictator fled, Chebbi imagined that he would succeed him. Shamelessly, he presented himself as such to the European Union, to which he even named himself an ambassador. Did these stooges need a revolution to take advantage of and stuff their pockets while spending their time planning conspiracies and sabotages?

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