Tunisia: The Troika staggers but remains standing

The crisis that rocked the coalition interim government throughout the past week and the relationship between the President and the Prime Minister, amid disagreement over the extradition of former Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi Mahmoudi continues but efforts are in hand to promote a reconciliation according to an article in La Presse.

the resignation last Saturday of Mohamed Abbou from his post as Minister of Public Service has confirmed that divisions still mark the relationships within the Troika, especially in relationships between the head of government and Congress for the Republic party of President of the Republic, Dr. Marzouki, whose secretary general, Mohamed Abbou has withdrawn from the government.

Spokesmen from the different parties said that the resignation of Mohamed Abbou would have no impact on the Troika and the situation as it was a personal decision on his part. The referal to the National  Constituent Assembly of President Marzouki's complaint against Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali's action on the extraditon remains according to Samir Ben Amor, Executive Board Member of Congress for the Republic  (CPR)and advisor Dr. Marzouki, and they want the Consituent Assembly to act as arbiter between President and Prime Minister over their powers under the preliminary constitution.

Dr. Mustapha Ben Jaafar, president of the Constituent Assembly and the party chairman Ettakatol "is preparing to launch an initiative in the coming days to reconcile the president and the head of government" according to a source close to Mr Ben Jaafar. There is a recognition that coordination and communication needs to be improved. The situation is complicated by the need for a consitution which formally defines the powers of the executive and the troika which is of necessity a temporary solution looks as if it will hang together.

In retrospect the drafting of the new consitution has taken time and as with Egypt and Libya it leaves executive powers unclear and has been a delaying factor in the emergence of new democratic governments.Even if the Tunisian elections are in March 2013 and Prime Minister Jabali has called for an earlier date, it is still only ten months to go.