Tunisian Islamists open political talks with trade unions

Anti-government protesters in Tunisia Head of Tunisia's ruling Islamist Ennahda Party, Rachid Ghannouchi, has begun meetings with leaders of the country's top trade unions in a bid to resolve the political crisis sparked by the killing of an opposition politician.
On Saturday, Ghannouchi met President of the Tunisian Union of Industry (UTICA), Wided Bouchamaoui, to discuss the union's demand for a formation of a cabinet of technocrats. He urged members of UTICA to help the state push forward with the national dialogue.?
Insiders told Arab Today that Bouchamaoui is among the leading candidates to be named prime minister of the national salvation government, which will be announced by Tunisia's National Salvation Front next week.
In the meeting on Saturday, Bouchamaoui told Ghannouchi that the Tunisian economy has gone through a rocky six months, with several foreign investors postponing their trips to Tunisia due to the ongoing political crisis.
On Monday, Ghannouchi and speaker of the National Constituent Assembly, Mustapha Ben Jaafar, are expected to meet the powerful UGTT trade union chief Houcine Abassi.
The planned meeting comes after Ben Jaafar announced the suspension of the assembly's work drawing up a new constitution while the Islamist-led government and the opposition hold talks on ending the political crisis.
Ben Jaafar has proposed the UGTT as mediator for the talks.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of Tunisian Citizen Enterprises (CONECT) has called for the formation of a national unity government, until "free and fair" parliamentary elections.
President of CONECT, Tarek Cherif, said all parties must give priority to the national interest to achieve consensus before the current division worsens.
Cherif argued that a temporary reconciliation government would help achieve political stability in Tunisia, and pave the way for organising elections.
The CONECT chief urged authorities to set deadlines to conclude drafting the constitution, and make sure elections are held before the end of the year. ?
CONECT, the second biggest trade union in Tunisia after the UGTT, was established after the January 2011 revolution by Cherif.
The union is renowned for its efforts to develop the ?Tunisian economy, by attracting investors and organising economic conferences. It has previously worked closely with Tunisia's ruling Islamist government.
Political observers said that UGTT and CONECT, two of Tunisia's biggest trade unions, now have a greater role to play in Tunisia after the recent political assassination of opposition politician Mohamed Brahmi, and the impact of the terror threat on the national economy.
It is believed both organisations will oversee the transitional phase, which includes a limited role for the National Constituent Assembly (NCA). Political observers said that the unions have stopped short of declaring their support for dissolving the government and the NCA in favour of a national salvation ?government.