TUNIS
The head of Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda movement, Rachid al-Ghannouchi, said Friday that Tunisia's new government may include members of his party.
"Ennahda has put forth a list of names but the final decision is for the prime minister," al-Ghannouchi told reporters following a meeting with Prime Minister-designate Habib Essid.
"There is an inclination to accept Ennahda's participation in the new government, but nothing is final yet," he said.
"Negotiations are ongoing; we have yet to reach the desired results," al-Ghannouchi said, adding that there appeared to be an inclination to form "a national unity government including different political parties."
"Our main priority is the success of the government," he added.
PM-designate Essid is expected to unveil the new government on Monday before presenting it to parliament on Wednesday for approval.
Last week, al-Ghannouchi had said that Ennahda would not give confidence to the new government, which, he said, did "not meet the aspirations of Tunisians for a national unity government."
Ghannouchi went on to express hope that ongoing consultations would "lead to national consensus on the government lineup and program."
Parliament had been scheduled to hold a session on Tuesday to give confidence to Essid's new government, but the session was delayed.
The leftist Popular Front has already rejected Essid's proposed cabinet lineup. The Afek Tounes party also said it would oppose the new government.
In Tunisia's 217-seat parliament, the secular Nidaa Tounes party holds 86 seats and Ennahda holds 69, while the Popular Front and Afek Tounes hold 15 and eight seats respectively.
