Tunisia suspends adoption of Carthage Document

Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi has suspended the adoption of the Carthage Document due to disagreements over a clause related to the new prime minister, a government spokesperson has said.

On Monday, Essebsi met with signatories to the Carthage Document to ratify it. The legislation determines new economic and social priorities.

Following the announcement of the suspension of the adoption of the Carthage Document, the Secretary-General of the Tunisian General Labour Union, Noureddine Taboubi, announced that from yesterday he is “not bound by anything”.

Taboubi said in a statement: “The disagreement has been over point 64 in the Carthage Document II related to the new prime minister. In this regard, the president requested the suspension of the adoption of the Carthage Document.”

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Those who “take a stand in their position will bear responsibility as usual,” as added.

Members to the negotiations surrounding the documents could not reach a unified position on the fate of Youssef Chahed’s government, presidential spokesperson Saida Garrach said in a press briefing.

The Carthage Document, which was signed on 13 July 2016, at the Carthage Palace in the capital Tunis, is a political document which was signed by nine parties and three Tunisian organisations. It included economic and social policy guidelines and priorities in a number of national areas. A national unity government was formed as a result, headed by Chahed.