The National Constituent Assembly Chamber
Tunisia’s National Constituent Assembly (NCA) will restart plenary sessions next week without the withdrawn members and will not discuss the constitution, according to a statement by Speaker Mustapha Ben Jaafar on Wednesday.
The NCA would not discuss the constitution before the withdrawn members return to the assembly, Ben Jaafar said in an interview with radio station Mosaique FM on Thursday. A number of opposition members withdrew after the assassination of Mohammed Brahmi in late July.
Members of internal and special committees have already met this week to set the assembly’s agenda.
Withdrawn members were expressed incredulity at Ben Jafaar’s announcement.
“We do not understand Ben Jaafar’s position,” Rim Mahjoub of Afek Tounes said.
“He suspended the assembly’s activities and said that they will only resume if the national dialogue is launched, which is not the case.”
Ennahdha members welcomed the decision.
Reconvening “is a stimulus for all the parties, especially those who are really sincere in approaching elections,” said Amal Azouz.
“We’re not talking about those on the extremes…but a majority of the parties within the NCA are willing to resume work in and resume negotiations.”
In the interview with Mosaique FM, Ben Jaafar said that NCA members will discuss “pressing issues” in next week’s plenary sessions.
Opposition members gave no sign of rejoining the assembly.
“Everything that happens in the assembly is worthless to us,” Mahjoub said.
“The assembly is paralyzed. They want to divert the people by showing them that the NCA is working, it’s a manipulation of the people.”
The NCA has enough remaining members to reach quorum, allowing it to legally ratify and pass draft laws and even the draft constitution without the withdrawn members.
Both Azouz and Mahjoub, however, think such a scenario is unlikely.
Mahjoub stated that, though ratifying the constitution without the withdrawn members “can happen legally, it’s not possible politically.”
Azouz insisted Ennahdha does not think the matter “is a question of numbers.”
“We have almost 160 members in the NCA,” she continued, “but we need to ratify this constitution along with the opposition members, otherwise it has no meaning.”
The NCA has 216 members, minus the late Mohamed Brahmi.
“Those who are outside have to come back,” said Azouz. “We will continue to make efforts to have them come back. Otherwise we are at an impasse.”
Asma Smadhi contributed reporting.
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