Six MPs from Tunisia’s Nidaa Tounes party resign

Six MPs from Tunisia’s Nidaa Tounes parliamentary party officially resigned on Tuesday.

As many as twenty-two of the party’s MPs resigned earlier this month and decided to form a new parliamentary bloc under the name of al- Hurra.

MP Bouchra Belhaj Hamida, one of the six MP’s who resigned on Tuesday, named the other resigning MP’s as Leila Hamrouni, Mohammed al- Toroadi, Hassouna Nasfi, Alfa al- Sukkari and Sabreen Qhobntini.

“There are discussions with the al- Hurra bloc concerning its position about the government, and the Ennahda movement. We do not want create another incision, and we are not with one side against another,” said Hamida.

It is not yet known whether the MPs will join al- Hurra.

Hamida added: “We were optimistic until the last minute, and we imagined that these people will put the country’s interest above their personal interests and their love for power.”

The resignations will officially take effect in five days, according to parliamentary procedure.

Parliament Speaker Mohammed Nasser announced after the resignations that the Ennahda Movement has 69 seats in parliament, Nidaa Tounes has 64, Free Patriotic Union has 16, Popular Front has 15 and Afek Tounes and Democratic Current both have 10 seats.

MP Mohammed al-Toroadi said in a statement: “Our resignation came in fulfilment with our national obligations towards our voters as well as ethical commitments towards Nidaa Tounes.”

He added: “Nidaa Tounes’ current leadership is no longer serving its national role, and we have no confidence in it.”