Tunisian Muslim Brotherhood leaks indicate Ennahda would abandon Youssef Chahed

 Perhaps most of the political differences that Tunisia has been witnessing recently is due to how the Muslim Brotherhood held on to Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, the matter which President Beji Essebsi saw as sufficient reason to end the five-year-old political consensus with Ennahda Movement.

The situation, however, has changed as the Muslim Brotherhood will definitely abandon Chahed before the incoming 2019 presidential election, especially after the Brotherhood’s involvement in spying on their own in favor of Chahed.

Yamina Al-Zoghlami, a Member of Parliament for Ennahda Movement, revealed that a committee within the party will open an investigation into the leaking of a Shura Council meeting for members from outside the movement.

Moreover, Political Advisor of the Head of Tunisia’s Ennahda Movement, Lutfi Zaytoun, also accused some leaders at the movements of leaking the discussions and meetings for Youssef Chahed.

He also pointed out to the possibility of dissenting from the movement and the establishment of a new party only months ahead of the anticipated election.

Zaytoun also complained about some “side harassments” by some leaders at the movement and said in press remarks, “I will be leaving Ennahda, when I get prohibited from expressing my opinion, I left the meeting in protest to this move [meaning the spying], which does not honor whoever did it or whoever received it, because a proper political life cannot be built that way, and I have asked the council to take the necessary action in this regard.”

Observers suggest that there is a conflict between leaders of the movement and disagreement on how to deal with the new party of the prime minister, especially with the presidential election ahead, which was discussed during the meeting, and showed division regarding the stance on Chahed and direct accusations to Rachid Ghannouchi that he fully supports the Prime Minister without any considerations to the public interest.

Acharaa al-Maghribi newspaper published that Zaytoun held Ghannouchi accountable for supporting Chahed despite of the faults within the political process, as he also accused Chahed of forging his way into the presidential election. Two days ago, Ennahda announced full solidarity with Essebsi against any offence, a move that was described as “flirting” with Essebsi after the pressure the movement was subjected to.

Chahed, the seventh Prime Minister since the 2011 revolution, has remained a record period of his term since his appointment in August 2016.

Chahed enjoys the appreciation of international fund providers to Tunisia, as well as the support of the Islamic Ennahda Party, which has become the largest political party in the parliament.