Tunis — President of the Political Committee of the Republican Party Ahmed Néjib Chebbi said that his meeting on Tuesday with Caretaker President Moncef Marzouki had focused on consultations over the "government crisis" and the need to "reach a consensus to find a way out".

"Consultations with PM Hamadi Jebali have been met with a large consensus, including a consensus on modifying JEBAli's suggestion in case it is not possible to form a 100% technocratic cabinet," Chebbi said.

He added it has also been agreed to keep the apolitical members of the current cabinet and secure "the full neutrality of the three sovereign ministries, namely the Interior Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the Justice Ministry." "The Republican Party supports the option of a national consensus cabinet and will not be part of the next government" he added, stressing that his party will "support it from outside".

Chebbi indicated that the next cabinet will have to be backed by the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) and will include politicians "who will probably not have the right to run for the next elections", saying that this issue had not been settled yet.