TUNIS – Tunisia’s main Islamist party said yesterday it had withdrawn from a body charged with preparing for elections after this year’s uprising, saying it feared further plans by interim authorities to delay the vote.
A committee of electoral monitors – which includes the main political parties – this month postponed to October 23rd from July a vote for a special assembly to write a new constitution after the collapse of Zin al-Abidine Ben Ali’s 23-year rule.
“The committee is trying to take over the role of an elected parliamentary body and there is an attempt to take over the authority of the constituent assembly,” Ennahda chief Rached Ghannouchi told a news conference.
“We have withdrawn completely since there is a minority that wants to impose its authority on the rest and we want to send a message to the people that the aims of the revolution are not being realised . . . We have serious doubts that the election will be held on October 23rd.”
Tunisia, seen as a western ally under Ben Ali, has been in limbo since he fled on January 14th in the face of a popular revolt.
The road map to a new democratic Tunisia involves the constituent assembly election in October, followed by parliamentary and presidential elections some time next year.
But Ennahda says the left-wing secular groups who dominate the committee charged with organising elections are forming draft legislation – on media and political parties – without putting them to a vote. – (Reuters)