5 Tunisian opposition parties form bloc to thwart reconciliation bill

Five Tunisian political parties have formed a bloc to thwart a bill that would grant amnesty to businessmen accused of corruption during the rule of autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali.

The bill would protect from prosecution those accused of corruption and, in exchange, they would be required to return the money they extracted.

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The blocs include the Republican Party, the People’s Movement, the Democratic Movement and the Popular Front.

Meanwhile, activists have organised a campaign on social media against the bill. The activists reject the draft law referring to it as “unconstitutional”.

The bill was proposed by President Beji Caid Essebsi in 2015.