Tunisia ruling party lawmakers resign from parliament

Nov 13, 2015 Thirty two Tunisian lawmakers recently resigned from the ruling party bloc in parliament after accusing President Beji Caid Essebsi’s son of meddling.

Tunisia has enjoyed a period of political stability following its transition to democracy.

However, earlier this month brawling broke out between two factions of the Nidaa Tounes party in what critics say were attempts by Essebsi’s son to seize control.

Hajer Laroussi, one of the protesting deputies said:

“We feel compelled to resign from our parliamentary group as a first step to stand for democracy and for the credibility of our work as parliamentarians. Even though we have taken this position and that things are complicated, we are still open for discussion and reform,”

Hsouna Ennasri, another Nidaa Tounes deputy said:

“Democracy and a law-abiding state are the most important pillars that our party was founded on. When internally, a political party doesn’t even respect its legitimate institutions, we consider that as crossing a red line and that it could threaten the whole state’s institutions,”

According to experts, the resignations may complicate attempts to push through sensitive reforms that Tunisia’s international lenders are demanding to curb public spending and jumpstart the economy.