Ennahdha Agrees to Caretaker Government to Run Elections

Ennahdha and an opposition party have reached an agreement that would keep the current government in office but allow for an independent caretaker government to run elections. Following a meeting with the Democratic Alliance, an opposition political party, on Sunday, Ennahdha announced that the two parties reached an understanding. Details of the deal remain unclear, however, Ennahdha sources confirm that the current government led by Prime Minister Ali Laarayedh will not resign. Instead, the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) will finish the constitution and the electoral law and finalize appointments to the body that will organize the elections, according to Ennahdha assembly member Osama Al Saghir. Once these tasks are completed, Al Saghir added, the government will step down prior to elections in favor of a technocratic caretaker government. “The technocrat government will have a limited mandate. Its main mission will be organizing the elections and temporarily taking care of the country’s affairs,” he said. Another opposition party, al-Massar, has rejected the agreement. “This is not a real agreement,” said Samir Bettaib of al-Massar. “They’re talking about two different dates. Ennahdha is talking about dissolving the government later, the Democratic Alliance is talking about dissolving the government now.” “We need a salvation government now, not in March or April,” Bettaib said. Commenting on the October deadline suggested by Ennahdha, Bettaib added, “that’s impossible, they’re dreaming, we don’t have an electoral law.” The agreement comes one month after the assassination of opposition politician Mohamed Brahmi. Opposition forces blamed Ennahdha for his death and organized demonstrations around the country. The NCA has been paralyzed for weeks following the withdrawal of over sixty opposition members, prompting the speaker, Mustapha Ben Jaafar, to suspend work. Demonstrations have occurred in the past month, with both sides using the size of the crowds to lend their position credibility.