Ennahda fishing in Tunisia's troubled political waters
The head of Ennahda Movement and Party, the branch of the Muslim Brotherhood in Tunisia, Rached Ghannouchi, is trying to fish in murky waters, especially after the series of protests that overwhelmed his country against his movement which controls most state institutions in Tunisia.
Ghannouchi, also the parliament speaker, is seeking more
control over Tunisia by his movement through the next parliamentary elections.
He asked Tunisian President Kais Saied to
approve a motion for turning the Tunisian political system into a parliamentary
one.
This means that the role of the president will
be symbolic.
The Tunisian president rejected the proposal.
President Saied also rejected a cabinet reshuffle proposed by Prime Minister
Hichem Mechichi against the background of corruption suspicions around four the
proposed ministers.
Ennahda considered Saied's position
unconstitutional.
Ghannouchi said the presidency in Tunisia is
"honorary" and that the president does not have the power to approve
or disapprove of cabinet reshuffles.
Tensions have been raging on in Tunisia
between the presidency, the parliament and the cabinet since the beginning of
this year.
Ordinary Tunisians are also protesting against
state institutions, accusing them of failing to address the problems of their
country.
Political system
The Tunisian political system, which is
enshrined in the 2014 constitution, limits the mandate of the president. The
constitution distributes power between the presidency, the parliament and the
cabinet.
The president represents the state, regulates
general policies in the fields of defense, foreign relations and national
security. He is responsible for appointing army commanders and the members of
diplomatic missions. The president also has the right to dissolve the
parliament at times of crises.
The prime minister is responsible, meanwhile,
for forming the cabinet and sacking cabinet ministers. He is also responsible
for appointing civilians in senior civilian positions.
