Eurasia Press & News
There was no end in sight Tuesday to Tunisia’s months-long political crisis after ruling Islamists and the opposition failed to agree on an independent premier following two missed deadlines.
The birthplace of the Arab Spring has been mired in political stalemate after the assassination of two prominent opposition leaders by suspected jihadists earlier this year.
The opposition has accused the ruling Ennahda, a moderate Islamist party, of failing to rein in extremists long-suppressed by former strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali as the country has been rattled by a string of attacks mainly targeting security forces.
After much wrangling, Ennahda and the opposition opened talks on October 25 to form a government of independents, draft a much-delayed constitution and prepare for elections as part of a roadmap with a tight timetable.
But on Monday mediators from the powerful UGTT union confederation said the dialogue had been suspended after the two sides failed to agree on a new prime minister.
However, any candidate would require the support of Ennahda and its allies, who won a majority in parliament in the first elections held after Ben Ali’s fall.
