Members of UGTT, UTICA, The Tunisian League of Human Rights, and the National Bar Association meet in Jendouba, September 23, 2013. Photo credit: UGTT Official Facebook page.
The UGTT, Tunisia’s largest union and a broker in political negotiations, has accepted Ennahdha’s agreement to begin direct talks after rebuking the party last week. Opposition parties, however, remain unsure of the majority party’s commitment to the union’s political roadmap.
“We bless Ennahdha’s acceptance to join the national dialogue but we have reservations as they tend to focus on the less important side-issues,” Chokri Yaich, an opposition member from the Nidaa Tounes party told Tunisia Live.
Ennahdha agreed to participate in talks almost two weeks ago, but disagreed with conditions set out in the UGTT’s roadmap, which mandates the current government resign three weeks from the first session of talks in favor of a mutually agreeable government of technocratic leaders. The ruling coalition maintains that resignation of the current government is conditional upon the National Constituent Assemly (NCA) passing the draft constitution and preparing for elections.
The UGTT, a leading mediator, initially rejected Ennahdha’s stance. However, following Friday meetings between party leaders, the UGTT, and other civil society groups that drafted the roadmap, the union appeared satisfied with Ennahdha’s acceptance of talks.
“Ennahdha’s statement was clear. They accepted our initiative,” said Ghassen Ksibi from the UGTT’s media office.
The UGTT labor union is set to announce the date of the first session of political talks, expected in the coming days, according to Ksibi.
Opposition politicians remain skeptical, however, and insist on the government’s public commitment to resign.
Withdrawn NCA members will not return before the current government commits to resigning by the three-week deadline, according to Nadia Chaabane, a withdrawn opposition member from Al-Massar party.
“Ennahdha is saying they agree to step down while the government’s position is still blurry. If you see all this contradiction, who can you believe?” Chaabane said.
Farida Laabidi, an Ennahdha NCA member and part of the party’s consultative Shura Council denied any ambiguity in Ennahdha’s position on the roadmap.
The government will “commit to resign” within three weeks from the first session of talks once they start if certain conditions are met, she said.
“The government will effectively resign as soon as the elections board, law and dates are ready. The rest of the details will be discussed during the dialogue. That’s why it’s called a dialogue,” she added.
Cherif Khraifi of the Workers Party criticized Ennahdha’s stance on the UGTT roadmap.
“Ennahdha is being hesitant. Its stance is misleading. They’re trying to gain time. After two months of protests and sit-ins, people are expecting a serious solution,” he said.
The UGTT, in a statement on Sunday, said the first session of talks will include President Moncef Marzouki, Prime Minister Ali Laarayedh, and head of the NCA Mustapha Ben Jaafar in addition to political parties and the union’s civil society mediating partners.
Though the list of participants match what the union originally suggested in its roadmap, Khraifi questioned the union’s statement and its role in the talks.
“Who gave the UGTT such power to decide on behalf of everyone else?” asked Khraifi.
The Workers Party, and potentially the Popular Front, will not join the first session of talks, unless circumstances are “clearer and more serious,” he said.
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