Tunisia’s Ennahda movement becomes a political party

President of Tunisia’s Ennahda movement Rached Ghannouchi announced on Saturday that the group is to become a political party.

“We are going to shift to a political party that devotes itself for political action, and leaves civil action to civil society organisations,” Ghannouchi said during a press conference on the sidelines of the 46th session of the Ennahda Shura Council in Hammamet.

Member of the Ennaha Shura Council, Zubair Al-Shahudi, told the Huffington Post Arabic that the decision to shift into a political party has been approved by a majority of the council.

“We will focus on political work and leave social activities including cultural and charitable activities for civil society organisations,” he added.

Observers believe the movement’s General Conference will be crucial in the issue of separating between the movement’s advocacy and political activities.