Tunisia’s Ennahda wants consensus

Tunisia's ruling Islamist movement Ennahda has announced it will give up key government ministries in a perceived concession to ease a growing political crisis in the country. Ennahda member Riadh Chaibi exclusively told Arabstoday the long-awaited reshuffle aimed at improving Tunisia’s “political climate.” “The decision comes from our desire to form consensus and improve the political climate in the run-up to transition,” Chaibi said. The Islamist party wanted to prepare the ground for upcoming elections, he added, as Ali Larayedh prepares to form a new cabinet following the resignation of Hamadi Jebali as Tunisian Prime Minister. Chaibi claimed that Ennahda is committed to meeting the demands of coalition partners in the beleaguered troika government. “The cabinet coalition has been expanded as new forces will be brought in to form Laraydeh’s new government,” he said. Six parties, including the Wafa Movement, the al-Aman Party as well as opposition stalwards Ettakatol and President Moncef Marzouki’s Congress for the Republic (CPR), would be invited to join the coalition. Ennahda leader Rachid Ghannouchi announced the “neutralization” of four ministries on Wednesday, opening up the Interior, Justice, Foreign and Defence departments to independent and opposition forces.