The Tunisian Ennahda party has been suffering from internal divisions that threaten to shake its structures, with the latest blow coming from deputy chief Abdelhamid Jelassi, who announced his resignation on Thursday.
His decision came after several party members threatened to resign too in case the movement's 11th electoral congress is not held on time in May.
They believe that any delay would be a serious deviation from the movement’s democratic path.
Jellassi, who ended his 40-year political role in the movement, said he decided to resign because he was no longer satisfied with the political choices made by Ennahda.
“Democracy inside the party is currently threatened,” he said.
Jellassi had resigned from Ennahda’s executive bureau on January 28, 2015.
Since 2011, a number of Ennahda leaders have resigned from the party, including Secretary-General Hamadi Jebali (March 5, 2014) as well as Secretary-General Zied Ladhari (November 26, 2019).
Several party members criticize the Ghannouchi family for grabbing decision-making powers in the movement.
Ennahda, which is led by Rached Ghannouchi, won the last legislative elections.
Ennahda spokesman Imad al-Khamiri said on Thursday that Jellassi would likely be asked to withdraw his resignation decision.
Political analyst Dunia Hafsa said the resignation would add tension inside the movement, which has always been keen on keeping its internal disputes away from the spotlight.
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