Tunisian political parties to reach agreement on government formation by weekend

Tunisian political parties to reach agreement on government formation by weekend
Tunisia's three main political parties are expected to reach a deal on key ministerial posts by the end of the week, the official press agency TAP reported on Friday.

The spokesman for Ettakatol said that talks between his party, Ennahdha and the Congress for the Republic were fast advancing and that a deal would be concluded before the end of the week.

Ettakatol suspended its participation in the work of three commissions on Tuesday in reaction to a statement by the secretary general of the country's main Islamist party Ennahdha on the advent of a "sixth Caliphate" in Tunisia.

Meanwhile, as the head of the country's second political party, the Congress for the Republic, Moncef Marzouki reaffirmed on Thursday his right to claim the presidency of the republic.

The country's 217-member Constituent Assembly which was recently elected will hold its inaugural meeting on Nov. 22 at the former chamber of deputies in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.

The assembly is tasked with drafting a new constitution as well as running the country for a twelve-month period, before the holding of presidential and legislative elections.

Editor: yan

English.news.cn   2011-11-19 03:27:05 FeedbackPrintRSS
TUNIS, Nov. 18 (Xinhua)