Tunisia: Ennahda Accuses Parties of Spreading Lies about Ghannouchi’s Health

Arab World

March 30th, 7:42am

Tunis - Mongi Saidani

Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi in his office, in Tunis (file photo: Reuters)

Head of Ennahda Movement and Speaker Rached Ghannouchi has been reportedly transferred to the military hospital in Tunis after his health deteriorated. However, Ennahda denied the rumors, asserting Ghannouchi, 79, is fine and carrying out his constitutional duties. MP Maher Medhioub, the Speaker's aide, affirmed that Ghannouchi is "in good health and practicing his duties," stressing that media reports about any change in the speakership is untrue. Mohammed Goumani, member of Ennahda's executive office, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the rumors about Ghannouchi's health fall within the recurring attempts by “parties and figures who lack credibility" to confuse the public. These accusations come in the wake of a petition led by opposition MP Mongi Rahoui to withdraw confidence from Ghannouchi. Rahoui asserted that the petition now has over 104 signatories, which means that only five more are required to reach the majority to remove Ghannouchi from his post. The MP, who is also a member of the politburo of Democratic Patriots' Unified Party, renewed his call to the Public Prosecution to take action against threats and the defamation campaign launched against him. He believes that a number of Ennahda members and lawmakers are behind the threats after he demanded an investigation into the wealth of some of the movement's leaders. He explained that this falls under "illicit enrichment" and requires the intervention of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The lawmaker indicated that the defamation campaigns targeting him were launched on social media pages supported by Ennahda.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2889911/tunisia-ennahda-accuses-parties-spreading-lies-about-ghannouchi%E2%80%99s-health