Article

2021-08-01 Africa North

Ennahdha's Ghannouchi takes ill amid political turmoil in Tunisia

[ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Rached Ghannouchi, the 80-year-old leader of turmoil-wracked Tunisia’s Islamist-inspired party Ennahdha, suddenly became unwell Saturday while working punishing hours but it was not serious, an aide said.

Since President Kais Saied seized power in Tunisia on Sunday, Ghannouchi has been working 16 hours to 18 hours per day, aide Ahmed Gaaloul said.

Ghannouchi, who is also speaker of parliament and the second most prominent political figure in the country, "was not hospitalised and has nothing serious," Gaaloul said.

Last Sunday, Saied sacked prime minister Hichem Mechichi and suspended parliament for 30 days. He ordered a graft crackdown targeting 460 businessmen and an investigation into alleged illegal funding of political parties, including Ennahdha.

"(Ghannouchi) suffered a little malaise earlier in the day and had to go to a clinic to be examined," Gaaloul added.

"During the check-up, he was told there was nothing serious," the former minister said.

"A doctor prescribed some medication for him and he is now back home," he said. "Mr. Ghannouchi is a little tired at this time."

Ghannouchi, in an interview with AFP, called for a return to democracy and voiced regret at the lack of dialogue with the presidency.

He warned that if no agreement is reached on the formation of a government and the reopening of the legislature, "we will invite the Tunisian people to defend their democracy."

A member in all government coalitions for the last ten years, his party crystallises the discontent of a large section of Tunisians, who hold him as most responsible for the unkept promises from the 2011 revolution.

On Saturday the Tunisian daily La Presse portrayed Ennahdha as a party "abandoned by all or almost," which is "looking at all costs for a solution to emerge from its state of isolation."

Related:
Rached Ghannouchi: 2021-07-27 Top Muslim scholar rejects 'coup' in Tunisia
Rached Ghannouchi: 2021-07-26 Tunisian army deployed in the capital
Rached Ghannouchi: 2021-04-28 Tunisia Opposition Calls for Removing Ennahda to End Constitutional Crisis

Related:
Ennahdha: 2021-07-29 Tunisia in Political Turmoil as President Dismisses More Officials
Ennahdha: 2020-02-16 Tunisia’s PM designate forms new government but future uncertain
Ennahdha: 2020-01-16 #Tunisian MP Abeer Moussa, head of the Free Constitutional Party bloc blows a storm in the face of Ghannouchi

Related:
Kais Saied: 2021-07-29 Tunisia in Political Turmoil as President Dismisses More Officials
Kais Saied: 2021-07-29 3 Tunisian parties, including Ennahda, face legal probe over electoral foreign funding: Official
Kais Saied: 2021-07-28 How Will Recent Events in Tunisia Affect Libya's Muslim Brotherhood?

Related:
Ahmed Gaaloul: 2020-07-17 In Tunisia's caretaker government, Ennahda ministers excluded

Related:
Hichem Mechichi: 2021-07-29 Tunisia in Political Turmoil as President Dismisses More Officials
Hichem Mechichi: 2021-07-29 3 Tunisian parties, including Ennahda, face legal probe over electoral foreign funding: Official
Hichem Mechichi: 2021-07-27 Top Muslim scholar rejects 'coup' in Tunisia

Posted by Fred 2021-08-01 00:00|| || Front Page|| [18 views ] Top
File under: Muslim Brotherhood

#1 Saied will either have to kill Ghannouchi or send him into exile to get peace in Tunisia. Since murder isn't the Tunisian preference, Ghannouchi will either be exiled or Saied will have failed.

Posted by Gerthudion Whomoper3485 2021-08-01 09:15|| 2021-08-01 09:15|| Front Page Top