3 Ettakatol MPs leave Tunisian government

Three members of the Democratic Forum for Labour and Liberties party (also known as Ettakatol) have resigned from the party and the coalition with El-Nahda party, a member of parliament told Arabstoday. MP Fatima Gharby revealed to Arabstoday that she, Salim Bin Abdul Salam Salma Mabrouk have resigned to denounce the Islamic el-Nahda party’s control over the coalition. She told Arabstoday that the Al-Nahda party would adopt one-sided policies without consulting their side of the Troika coalition making the Ettakatol party an optional accessory of the Tunisian government. Gharby denounced the El-Nhada movement saying that the party would impose their policies, interfere with the executive and judiciary authorities and appoint various individuals to official roles without consulting the rest of the coalition. The resigned MP said the El Nahda party was looking to create another dictatorship in Tunisia. She also said that the Ettakatol’s decision to take part in the Troika was a “big mistake”. But Gharby insisted the National Constituent Assembly was still legitimate despite their resignations and accusations. Ettakatol Spokesman Mohamed Bennour said to Arabstoday: “This is a very bad timing for us, especially with the Constitutional Democratic Rally (the former government) trying to topple our current government.” The spokesman denied being subject to the El-Nahda party’s control and rejected the accusations from the MPs who resigned. Thirteen members of the Ettakatol party have resigned last week to protest against their party entering the Troika collation with El-Nahda. The former members also accused the Ettakatol of lacking transparency when taking decisions, as they promised to devote their efforts for defending freedoms in Tunisia in the upcoming electoral events. Some observers see say that Ettakatol party has made several fundamental errors in the negotiations with the coalition, as well as changing their original ideas which initially attracted many voters,