Tunisians celebrated the Eid Al Adha feast with a strong dose of electoral campaign blunders emanating from Beji Caid Essebsi’s communication performance. His appearance on public TV last week was a difficult experience, even for his supporters. In response to a journalist’s questions about vice president of the Constituent Assembly Mrs. Mehrezia Laabidi’s statement about the performance of his 2011 government, Caid Essebsi replied: “What should I tell you? It is just a woman”. Considered sexist and inappropriate from a political leader who should show statecraft, Caid Essebsi’s comment has triggered a wave of criticism on social media and indignation from women’s groups. On the other hand, Ennahdha has set its electoral campaign machinery in motion with rallies in the 27 constituencies in Tunisia and the 6 constituencies abroad. While Rached Ghanouchi has launched a series of lectures in the USA (Yale University and Harvard University) and the region to market the success of the Tunisian consensus model, Abdulfatah Morro, considered No.2 in Ennahdha and a strong critical voice within the movement, told Alaraby daily that Ennahdha has lost its sympathisers and only its core base would vote for it in the upcoming 26 October elections. Ennahdha was however keen to portray a unified image at the launch of its campaign last week. Next to Ghanouchi and Ali Laryedh sat Morro and Hamadi Jbali. Ennahdha hoped by doing so to dismiss reports that Jbali was running for the presidential elections as an independent candidate.
http://www.alaraby.co.uk/opinion/64bcdffc-e7ca-4e74-8ac6-e25d0e7f8f56
http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/reports/2014/10/20141027409786296.htm
