After months of political wrangling and manoeuvring on whether to hold presidential elections before legislative ones or simultaneously, twelve parties voted for holding legislative elections first against six parties who preferred otherwise. Despite the agreement, on Wednesday, by Ennahdha and Nida Tounes (Tunisa Call) to hold elections simultaneously, smaller parties had other calculations and divergent positions. The consensus was therefore to hold legislative elections first. Meanwhile, rivalry amongst presidential hopefuls has intensified, and Ennahdha has not yet announced whether it would present a candidate or support a figure from outside the party. A communique released by Ennahda on Sunday, following its Shura (consultative) Council meeting, hinted to its preference. The council considered that “presidential elections need to open a large and deep dialogue among the different political and social actors in order to reach the widest consensus possible on a national figure to continue the work in order to realise the objectives of the revolution and the consolidation of the democratic edifice.” Both President Mouncef Merzouki and Najib Chebbi , Republican Party, have courted Ennahdha in media appearances last week.
http://www.kapitalis.com/politique/22892-tunisie-elections-nejib-chebbi-joue-la-carte-ennahdha.html http://www.ennahdha.tn
