Tunisia: National dialogue to start on October 23

The national dialogue will officially begin next October 23, Secretary-General of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT) Hassine Abassi said on Friday.

“We are doomed to the same fate; mainly in implementing the roadmap, finding a common ground and overcoming all obstacles”, Abassi said at the end of a meeting held on Friday between organisations sponsoring the national dialogue and representatives of parties that signed the roadmap.

“Due to difficulties pertaining to the Independent Higher Authority for Elections (IHAE), we were obliged to hold preparatory sessions so as to agree on the official date of the national dialogue,” he added.

“The national dialogue will allow the completion of the constituent process and elect IHAE members,” he said, adding that an agreement has been reached on a procedure that will take into consideration the decisions of the Administrative Court so as to avoid any possible appeals.”

Hinting to the resignation of the government, Abassi stressed that the official resignation of the current government “is planned only on the date set for it, namely in three weeks after the official start of the national dialogue.”