Several Tunisian opposition officials announced the formation of a new coalition that seeks to “form a political front, create a force capable of establishing stability and ending chaos, and mobilize Tunisians,” announced former leader of the Nidaa Tounes party Ridha Belhadj.
The new “Amal” coalition is formed of the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP), led by Ahmad Najib al-Shabi, Belhadj, Selma Elloumi, head of the Al Amal party, and Belhadj. Talks are underway with the Afek Tounes, Machrouu Tounes and Beni Watani parties to join the coalition. The latter two had previously broken away from Nidaa Tounes.
The anticipated political coalition aims to cement the concept of collective leadership based on three pillars: encouraging the youth to participate and shape politics, establishing a center for political studies and relying on direct communication with Tunisians.
Shabi, a prominent critic of the old regime, stressed that the new alliance will be a democratic coalition that brings together all democratic parties.
The current frustration with developments in the political scene and the people’s boycott of various elections, the latest of which were the municipal polls, demands that all democratic political parties be brought together to save the country, he added.
The goal is to achieve tangible change by 2024, he remarked, calling for holding a national salvation conference before the “crises deepen”.
The members of the new coalition have criticized the ruling coalition led by the Ennahda movement, accusing it of seeking to control all aspects of political life and adopting “consensual dictatorship” in running the country.
Tunisia has seen several political coalitions take shape since the 2011 revolution. Most prominent of which was the Union for Tunisia, led by late President Beji Caid Essebsi. The coalition succeeded in 2013 in removing the Ennahda movement from power.
