Tunisia's Free Destourian Nominates Moussi for Presidential Elections

Tunisia's Free Destourian Party President Abir Moussi (EPA)
Tunisia's Free Destourian Party President Abir Moussi (EPA)
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Tunisia's Free Destourian Nominates Moussi for Presidential Elections

Tunisia's Free Destourian Party President Abir Moussi (EPA)
Tunisia's Free Destourian Party President Abir Moussi (EPA)

Tunisia's Free Destourian Party (PDL) unanimously nominated its president Abir Moussi for the upcoming presidential elections, according to the German News Agency (dpa).

The party announced a "general list" that included its stance on the current national affairs, criticizing the policies of President Kais Saied after imposing exceptional measures since July 25.

Moussi chaired the party's legislative bloc before Saied's froze the parliament. She is one of the most vocal opponents of the Islamic Ennahda Movement, the conservative Dignity Coalition, and Islamic organizations.

She was a member of the dissolved Democratic Constitutional Rally, which ruled Tunisia before the 2011 revolution. Her opponents accuse Moussi of being a front for the former regime.

Saeid, who was elected by a vast majority in 2019, presented a political roadmap, including a national electronic consultation, a popular referendum on political reforms, and the organization of parliamentary elections at the end of this year.

The Free Destourian condemned the President for dismantling institutions claiming exceptional measures to facilitate the implementation of his political project.

Moussi announced that the party would hold a sit-in on March 13, declaring their support for the state and aiming to save the people from the dangers of social tension, financial collapse, and poverty.

During a press conference held to announce the results of the expanded central committee of the party, Moussi said that the latter would force the President to respect the will of the Tunisian people through protests.

Moussa declared that her party would not recognize the consultation results that were executed over the electronic platform.

The party will sue the platform's supervisors for squandering public funds, violating regulations, harming the administration, and deceiving the will of citizens, according to Moussi.

The Free Destourian refuses to change the rules of the democratic process.

She stressed that any texts issued by the President are illegal, based on the requirements of Presidential order 117 concerning the political system.



Hezbollah-Israel Ceasefire Proposal Says Only ‘Official’ Forces May Carry Arms in Lebanon

 Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
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Hezbollah-Israel Ceasefire Proposal Says Only ‘Official’ Forces May Carry Arms in Lebanon

 Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)
Lebanese soldiers ride in a convoy in Mansouri, as they head to southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP)

A ceasefire proposal agreed to by Lebanon and Israel stipulates that only "official military and security forces" in Lebanon are authorized to carry arms in the country, according to a copy of the deal dated on Tuesday and seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

It specifically names those forces as the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Internal Security Forces, General Security, State Security, Lebanese customs and municipal police.

Officials in both the Lebanese government and Iran-backed Hezbollah have long referred to cabinet statements since 2008 enshrining the right to "resistance" as providing official approval for Hezbollah's arsenal.

The truce proposal refers to both sides' commitment to fully implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, including provisions that refer to the "disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon".

Hezbollah has not formally commented on the ceasefire, but senior official Hassan Fadlallah told Lebanon's Al Jadeed TV late on Tuesday that while the group supported the extension of the Lebanese state's authority, the group would emerge from the war stronger.

"Thousands will join the resistance... Disarming the resistance was an Israeli proposal that fell through," said Fadlallah, who is also a member of Lebanon's parliament.