Ghannouchi announces coalition to lead Tunisia

The leader of Tunisia’s victorious Al-Nahda Party has announced that he has formed a coalition to take his country “towards freedom and democracy”. Rashid Ghannouchi made the announcement in a speech to the Movement of Society for Peace (MSP) during his visit to Algeria at the invitation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. According to Ghannouchi, his coalition partners will be Al-Takattol Party (The Democratic Forum for Liberties and labour) and the Congress for the Republic Party.

“I am now meeting with those who were with us in prison,” said Ghannouchi. “The elections are the culmination of that we struggled for.”

---

Mr Ghannouchi used his speech to praise the historic and current roles of Algeria. “The first place I went to after the Tunisian regime oppressed me was Algeria and the country embraced me,” he said, “and now it is the first place I am visiting post-revolution.” He added that he was amongst his brothers in the MSP, the “twin” of Al-Nahda. He is looking forward to collaborative work towards a strong and effective Arab Maghreb (west), especially by benefiting from Algeria’s political experience.