Tunisian opponent Ahmed Néjib Chebbi has launched the National Salvation Front, a new political group bringing together two heavyweights: the Islamist party Ennahda and the Qalb Tounès movement of businessman Nabil Karoui. Smaller movements complement it. For Ahmed Néjib Chebbi, this Front must ” save ” Tunisia. He wants to unite political forces to restore the democratic process undermined by the constitutional coup of President Kaïs Saïed.
With this new formation, Ahmed Nejib Chebbi engages in arm wrestling with the president. The 78-year-old lawyer is a left-wing figure with a unifying profile. He never held very high office, but ” he is a long-time opponent who has political credit and respectability “says a researcher.
Ennahda is a bridgehead of his National Salvation Front. The Islamists had 53 MPs out of 217 before parliament was dissolved in March. ” The movement retains popularity even if it is isolated, weakened, with responsibility for the failures of previous governments », Says an observer.
Alongside him there is also Qalb Tounes, which had 28 elected members. A party ” criticized by Covid management and a corruption scandal that tarnished its image “says a connoisseur. This coalition open to all, however, has not been full. Some parties are wary of Ennahda, notably the Democratic Bloc which does not participate.
The creation of this group nevertheless constitutes a challenge President Kais Saied, because it establishes political polarization and a balance of power with the Head of State. But it is also an alternative to the roadmap of the president, which provides for a constitutional referendum in July, then legislative elections in December. Ahmed Néjib Chebbi asks him for a national dialogue and the appointment of a government of salvation during a transition which will lead to a new ballot.