Ennahda says seeking to avoid early election in Tunisia

TUNIS

Tunisia's Ennahda movement is working to avoid going to early election, a senior movement leader said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference in Tunis, Abdelkarim Harouni, head of the movement's Shura Council, said progress has been made regarding negotiations to form a new government.

"Ennahda is working to avoid going to early election," he said, adding that new polls "would mean additional efforts, more money and adventures in unstable conditions".

He, however, stressed that "Ennahda does not fear election".

Harouni said his movement "will strive to find a solution within the framework of the constitution and harmony between the parties".

On Monday, President Kais Saied threatened to dissolve parliament and call early election if the government of designated Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh failed to win parliamentary confidence.

Fakhfakh was appointed by Saied last month to form the government after Ennahda's candidate Habib al-Jamali failed to win parliament's confidence for his cabinet lineup.

* Bassel Ibrahim contributed to this report from Ankara