Tunisia: Ghannouchi meets Hafez Essebsi to iron out differences

Rachid Ghannouchi, head of Islamist Ennahda movement said he met with Hafez Essebsi, director of ruling Nidaa Tounes, for the first time after fallout between the two former ally parties over Prime Minister Youssef Chahed.

A statement on Ghannouchi’s facebook page said the meeting addressed “the current political situation” with no further details.

The North African country is experiencing an unprecedented political turmoil marked by division between the ruling coalition dominated by Ennahda (68 seats in parliament) and Nidaa Tounes (41 seats).

The crisis erupted more than a year ago following Ennahda’s refusal to abandon Chahed’s coalition government.
Chahed has left his former party, Nidaa Tounes due to internal rivalry with Hafez who is the son of President Caid Essebsi.
The two men exchanged accusations of harming the interests of the party.

Chahed rose in January as leader of a new party Tahya Tounes – Arabic for “Long live Tunisia”. The party was formed by Nidaa Tounes dissidents.