The Islamist Ennahda party has reiterated its decision to boycott the legislative elections called for December and has stated that its structures and supporters are prohibited from participating in any way in the preparations for the elections.
Nizar Habubi, a member of the party’s executive committee, stressed that the decision to boycott the July constitutional referendum has been extended to the legislative elections and again accused President Kais Saied of «a coup against the Constitution», as reported by the Tunisian state news agency, TAP.
Thus, he affirmed that the legislative elections «will result in a tailor-made parliament without effective prerogatives», before insisting that the president will subsequently try to «extend his mandate», just a few days after a Tunisian court issued a travel ban against the leader of the Islamist Ennahda party and president of the dissolved parliament, Rachid Ghanuchi, in the framework of an investigation against him for alleged corruption.
The opposition National Salvation Front, which brings together dozens of parties and civil organizations, announced in September that it will boycott the elections called by Saied as part of his exceptional measures after arrogating to himself all powers in July 2021.
Tunisia is in the midst of a serious political crisis following Saied’s decision in July 2021 to dissolve the government and suspend the parliament, which was subsequently dissolved, amid opposition allegations of an authoritarian drift on the part of the president.
The opposition has already boycotted the July constitutional referendum, which strengthened the powers of the president and reduced the weight of the Parliament, which was dominated by Ennahda at the time of Saied’s dissolution nearly a year and a half ago.
