This archive report was first published on 13 July 2020.
Published on July 13, 2020, Tunisia's Ennahdha party has called for a change in government, citing Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh's alleged failure to hand over control of shares in private companies that have won public contracts.
Ennahdha's consultative council, led by Abdelkarim Harouni, has asked party leader Rached Ghannouchi to initiate consultations on a change of government, citing the need for a government free from conflict of interest.
"The economic and social situation is very serious and can only be overcome by a government whose head is not suspected of any conflict of interest," Harouni said in a news conference.
Relations between Ennahdha and Fakhfakh have been strained since the October legislative elections, and the party's call for change has been rejected by President Saied, who stated that there would be no consultations while Fakhfakh remains in power.
Tunisia's economy has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic, with Fakhfakh predicting a six percent economic shrinkage this year due to the bankruptcy of state enterprises.
