Tunis/Tunisia — The Shura Council of the Ennahdha movement decided at its 41st session held Sunday at its headquarters in Tunis, to task the movement's president, Rached Ghannouchi, with initiating needed talks and consultations with the President of the Republic, political parties and political and social forces to decide on a new government formation.

In a statement to TAP, spokesperson for the Ennahdha movement Imed Khemiri considered that this new government formation is "likely to put an end to the current political crisis, worsened by the economic and social situation generated by the coronavirus pandemic and by the possible involvement of Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh in a conflict of interest".

"Seeking to form a new government team represents Ennahdha's new position with regard to the consequences of the pandemic," said Khemiri, adding that the general situation in Tunisia can no longer afford any further delays.

Khemiri, on another level, indicated that the meeting of the Shura Council is taking place following the request of the executive board to reconsider the position of the movement towards the government and the ruling coalition that is part of it.

The 41st session of the Shura Council of the Ennahdha movement (54 deputies) is continuing.

The debates are focused on a well-defined point: "continue backing the Fakhfakh's government or opting for a withdrawal of confidence from it amid the controversy caused by the conflict of interest affair facing Fakhfakh".

Ennahdha is expected to hold a press conference on Monday 13 July to announce its final position about the Fakhfakh government.

The Ennahdha movement had in a statement on July 5 expressed concern about the "state of disintegration" of the government coalition and the lack of "the required solidarity".

It also expressed concern about attempts by some of its partners, on several occasions, to target the movement and align themselves with forces of political extremism in order to pass off suspicious parliamentary choices.