Stronger Relations With Algeria, Says Tunisia Potential President Merzougui

Moncef Merzougui, head of the Congress for the Republic (CPR) stands to be among the potential candidates for the Presidency of Tunisia, as observers expect that the Ennahda Movement to endorse him in the road to Cartage palace.

Head of CPR says in this interview with Echorouk reporter in Tunis that the future of Tunisia cannot be built by a unique political fraction, in reference to Ennahda which hit a landslide win in the elections for the 219 seats National Constituent Assembly, stressing that the next battle that awaits the different political trends in Tunisia will not be of ideological character, but rather is to fight poverty and tyranny. 

The name of Merzougui is circulating in the political scene as the potential President of Tunisia. Humbly, Mr Merzougui says in this regard: “Well, it’s too soon to say I’m to be the unanimous candidate; we have to wait for more consultations to be held between different trends in the political arena, including between the parties which won seats in the Constituent Assembly. And before talking about presidential elections, we the Congress for the Republic tend to form a national unity government, because the future of Tunisia does not depend on one single political fraction.”

As for the parties that the Congress for the Republic tends to struck alliance with, Mr Merzougui said: “Plenty of parties, including Ennahda, the Democratic Pole, the Tunisian Labour Communist Party and the other national parties which struggled to get rid of the dictatorship and install democracy. 

And whether to endorse the Secretary General of Ennahda, Hemadi Djebali, to run for the post of Prime Minister in the interim government, the head of CPR said: “We are holding consultations with true representatives of the Tunisian people, because the current battle has never been of ideological character, but rather has always been fiercely against poverty, underdevelopment, marginalization and tyranny. Those who attributed their voice to Ennahda or the CPR did not do that on religious or ideological motive, but rather they did that to improve their living conditions amid dignity and honesty.”

The potential President of Tunisia further evoked bilateral relations with the neighboring Algeria, saying: “Algeria is a strong and key nation in the Arab region, especially in the Maghreb region. I’d say that the peoples of the Maghreb are looking forward to get united, as cooperation and partnership won’t be interrupted just because the regime or governors have changed! We don’t want to “export” revolution to others; and we won’t interfere in other nations’ internal affairs. As for Algeria, I expect better bilateral relations in all domains amid the current political atmosphere.”

“Algeria would be the first country I visit, if I won Presidential elections,” he concluded.