Tunisia is still struggling to establish a government. While an end to the crisis was hoped for on Saturday 15 February with the announcement of a government by the Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Elyes Fakhfakh, the withdrawal of his partner Ennahdha makes confirmation of this one uncertain.

Elyes Fakhfakh, former finance minister, was appointed after the failure of a first cabinet formed under the leadership of Ennahdha, an Islamist-inspired party, after the legislative elections of October 6, and largely rejected by the Parliament.

Among the list of ministers announced on Saturday evening, several came from Ennahdha, although the party announced earlier today that it was withdrawing from government.

"Ennahdha's decision puts us in a difficult situation which forces us to study the legal and constitutional possibilities," said the Prime Minister-designate.

Negotiations continue

"We have decided with the President of the Republic to take advantage of what remains of constitutional duration" to continue to seek a solution, he added, hinting that the list could in particular be modified.

Elyes Fakhfakh was appointed on January 20 by President Kais Saied to form a cabinet within a month capable of convincing the majority of deputies.

Ennahdha demands the formation of a government of national unity including the second party in Parliament, Qalb Tounès, a liberal party led by media mogul Nabil Karoui, prosecuted for tax fraud, but he had been excluded from the negotiations.

"Ennahdha has decided not to participate in or vote for confidence in a government that would have been too weak" (without the participation of Qalb Tounès, editor's note), Abdelkarim Harouni, chairman of the choura council told AFP. Ennahdha, the party's advisory body.

"Mr. Fakfakh can still negotiate, but he does not have many days left," said Harouni, considering the possibility, if Mr. Fakhfakh does not present a cabinet, that President Saied will appoint a new head of government.
If there is no government by March 15, Keis Saied will have the opportunity to dissolve Parliament and call early elections.

Tunisia is the only country affected by the uprisings in the Arab world in 2011 to continue on the path of democratization. A four-year program of the International Monetary Fund ends in April without the Tunisian state having managed to carry out the reforms necessary to revive the economy.

With AFP

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