Tunisian parties, groups sign ‘Carthage Declaration’

TUNIS, Tunisia

Nine Tunisian political parties and three major organizations on Wednesday signed on to the "Carthage Declaration", which lays out the priorities of a proposed national unity government.

Following nearly one month of consultations, the document was signed by the Tunisian General Labor Union (the country’s largest labor union); the Tunisian Union for Industry and Commerce; and the Tunisian Union for Agriculture and Fisheries.

It was also signed by nine political parties, including the influential Ennahda movement, Nidaa Tounes, Afaq Tunus, the Movement of Tunisia Project, the Free National Union, the Tunisian Republican Party, the Social Democratic Path, the People’s Movement, and the National Constitutional Initiative.

In early June, Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi proposed the formation of a unity government that would put democratization and the fight against terrorism and corruption at the top of its agenda.

According to the initiative, political parties and influential labor unions would play prominent roles in the proposed unity government.

Until now, no practical steps have been taken towards the formation of the new government.

On Wednesday, however, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasir described the Carthage Agreement as "the positive result of consultations that brought political parties and organizations together in a manifestation of national unity and solidarity".

He went on to express the assembly’s readiness to "closely follow developments" regarding the proposed national unity government.

Parliament, he asserted, is "prepared to carry out its duties as laid out in the national constitution… and decide on the government to which it will give confidence".