Tunisia is bracing for the birth of a new political party after the Nidaa Tounes party suspended the membership of Prime Minister Youssef Chahed last week.
The new party will represent the largest parliamentary bloc, the “National Coalition”, which supports Chahed’s government.
The recently formed coalition is composed of 43 lawmakers, including independent MPs and others who have resigned from Nidaa Tounes and the Machrouu Tounes party.
The president of the party will be chosen during its founding conference.
Observers predicted that the new party could be the “dark horse” during next year’s elections, while others accused some of its members of joining the coalition to simply achieve material gain.
They added that the varying political stances of the coalition will be a precursor to future divisions in the party and that it will witness the same fragmentation seen in the Nidaa Tounes.
National Coalition MP Jalal Ghadira revealed that more than 109 lawmakers, or an absolute majority, were ready to renew their trust in Chahed’s government.
President Beji Caid Essebsi is seeking to put the cabinet to a no confidence vote before parliament.
