Tunisian MPs Seek to Withdraw Confidence From Fakhfakh

Arab World

June 27th, 7:42am

Tunis- Al Mongi Al Saidani

Tunisian MPs Seek to Withdraw Confidence From Fakhfakh

A number of Tunisian parliamentarians lauded tasking a parliamentary committee and a supervisory body with investigating the charge of "conflict of interests" against Prime Minister Elyes el-Fakhfakh. The lawmakers stressed that as long as everyone is acting against corruption, Tunisia will be fine. They confirmed that they will move forward with their request to withdraw confidence from the Prime Minister in the event that the charge against him is proven, especially as he has pledged to resign if he is found to be in violation of the law. Meanwhile, a number of parliamentarians criticized the smearing campaigns and called for a comprehensive national reconciliation. They emphasized that the formation of the parliamentary commission, headed by the opposition, to investigate this charge is an affirmation of the success of the democratic path in Tunisia. The parliamentary bloc of Islamist Ennhada movement, headed by Noureddine Bhiri, confirmed its refusal to sign a petition to withdraw confidence from the prime minister. The movement wants to pressure the prime minister to clarify the situation, stressing that the charge against Fakhfakh falls under “conflict of interests, and does not amount to a suspicion of corruption.” On the other hand, Heart of Tunisia party, with 27 parliamentary seats and the Dignity Coalition, with 19 seats, are determined to submit a petition to withdraw confidence from the Prime Minister, after being rejected by a number of parliamentary blocs. Fakhfakh still has the vote of the democratic bloc represented by the parties of the Democratic Movement and the People’s Movement, while the Free Destourian Party maintained an impartial position. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister stressed that security forces are to protect the state and its sovereign institutions, “otherwise chaos will occur.” Fakhfah was speaking at a parliamentary session on the assessment of the first one hundred days of the cabinet’s action. He was also answering the claims of a group of human rights organizations that accused the government of excessive use of force during the protests in Tataouine city in southern Tunisia. The organizations called for direct negotiation with protesters after the security authorities released Tariq Al-Haddad, the spokesman for the el-Kamour movement. In 2017, the government and Tataouine protesters signed an agreement to employ 1500 people in petroleum companies, and 3000 others in government institutions, with the allocation of $28 million to finance development projects in the state. A number of unemployed locals protested last week demanding the implementation of the remaining provisions of the agreement, namely the recruitment of 1500 persons in petroleum companies and 500 others in state institutions.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2356896/tunisian-mps-seek-withdraw-confidence-fakhfakh