A former opponent under the dictatorship of Zine el Abidine Ben Ali announced on Tuesday the creation of a front bringing together several parties to “save” Tunisia from its deep crisis after the coup by President Kaïs Saïed.
A left-wing political figure, Ahmed Néjib Chebbi, 78, opposes what he describes as a “coup” by President Saïed, who has been seizing power since July 25.
During a press conference in Tunis, this veteran of the political scene announced the creation of the “National Salvation Front” with the objective of uniting all political forces, in order to restore the democratic and constitutional process guaranteeing the freedoms and rights in the country. “We want the return to legitimacy and democracy,” he said.
The priority of this Front is to save an economy “in deep recession” due to a “rotten” political situation which is repelling investors, added Mr. Chebbi.
Composed of five political parties, including the Islamist-inspired movement Ennahdha, Mr. Saïed’s pet peeve, and five associations, this coalition aims to attract other political formations and “influential” personalities before launching a dialogue national on reforms intended to “save the country”, according to Mr. Chebbi.
He advocated the establishment of a “salvation government” to lead Tunisia during a “transition period”, until new elections are held.
After months of political blockage, Mr. Saïed, elected at the end of 2019, assumed full powers at the end of July by dismissing the Prime Minister and suspending Parliament before dissolving it in March.
In February, the Tunisian president dissolved the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSM) to replace it with a “temporary” judicial oversight body whose members he appointed.
On April 22, he assumed the right to appoint the head of the Electoral Authority, a few months before a referendum and a legislative election that this body must supervise.
His critics accuse him of establishing a new autocracy in the country, the only survivor of the Arab Spring of which it was the cradle in 2011.
Besides the political deadlock, Tunisia is struggling with a deep socio-economic crisis and is in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to obtain a new loan.