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People’s Movement Leader: Ennahdha-Social Liberal Coalition Threatens Democracy in Tunisia | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Unemployed protesters shout slogans during a demonstration demanding the government provide them with job opportunities, as Tunisia marks the sixth anniversary of Tunisia’s 2011 revolution, in Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia January 14, 2017. REUTERS/Amine Ben Aziza


People’s Movement Leader: Ennahdha-Social Liberal Coalition Threatens Democracy in Tunisia

by | Mar 23, 2017 | Interviews, Uncategorized |

People’s Movement Leader: Ennahdha-Social Liberal Coalition Threatens Democracy in Tunisia

Tunisia- Leader of the People’s Movement Zuhair Maghzawi criticized limiting the political operation in Tunisia to two parties: Ennahdha Party and Social Liberal Party. He considered this a misunderstanding of the political map following the 2011 revolution and disclosed intentions to stage a coup.

Maghzawi stated to Asharq Al-Awsat that the People’s Movement is willing to nominate a candidate from its members to run for the coming presidential elections, stressing that the return of thousands of Tunisian fighters to the country represents a serious threat to national security and that of neighboring countries.

“Where does the People’s Movement stand from the Tunisian political scene?” asked the newspaper.

“The nature of our suggestions and programs in facing choices of the ruling coalition makes us place ourselves in the social democratic opposition. However this position didn’t prevent us from interacting positively with the initiative of the president, in June 2016, to form a national unity government before the president, himself, contradicted his own initiative,” answered Maghzawi.

Asharq Al-Awsat asked, “What is your stance towards the current coalition between Ennahdha Party and Social Liberal Party? Do you consider it a way to achieve political transformation or a stumbling block to the political development in the country?”

Leader of the People’s Movement answered, “Before the previous parliamentary elections, we [in the party] described this coalition as a combination of opposites because the two parties have different ideologies but share the same proposals in social and economic fields. I see that if this coalition continues, it will pose a threat on the transfer of democracy in Tunisia because international supporters behind these two parties aim to limit the political operation in Tunisia to them.”

“How do you view the Arab Spring revolutions? Can they be used to consolidate democracy in the Arab world?” asked the newspaper.

“What popular movements lacked was leadership – In Egypt and Tunisia, it was more like a national revolution that focused on ousting the regime without having a clear and ready substitute to prevent the return of figures from previous regimes. As for Libya, Syria and Yemen it is not the same case and parties supporting the movements there are ample proof,” replied Maghzawi.