Tunisia’s Ennahda in uproar, refuses to dissolve parliament

Assassination of Chokri Belaid has sparked unrest across Tunisia Tunisia's ruling Ennahda party has voted unanimously against Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali's decision to dissolve the cabinet and form a non-partisan technocratic government until democratic transition is complete, Ennahda member Zoubeir Chahoudi told Arabstoday on Thursday.Chahoudi denied Tunisia had experienced “the necessary developments” to require “such a radical measure,” despite the assassination of leading left-winger Chokri Belaid on Wednesday morning and a wave of public anger in response.
Prime Minister Jebali, who is also the Secretary-General of the Islamist Ennahda party, had announced the decision on Wednesday evening. The new cabinet, Jebali said, would run until the end of transition and prepare for "free and fair elections under heavy international monitoring."
According to sources, closed-door meetings of the Ennahda party are currently being conducted in Jebali's absence, indicating an interfactional schism.
The Islamist party has already claimed Belaid’s assassination was aimed at destabilising the movement’s role in Tunisia.
Ennahda politician Sobhi al-Atiq dismissed Jebali’s initiative as “autocratic.”
Analysts expect two routes out of the current constitutional impasse.
Jebali could hand his resignation to President Moncef Marzouki for the latter to turn down and ask the Prime Minister to form another cabinet, which then be put to the National Constituent Council for approval.
On the other hand, each minister could hand in his or her resignation individually so that Jebali maintains his position as PM and can “plug the holes” with new ministers.
Meanwhile, political reactions to Jebali's decision have been varied.
Wafa movement leader Abderraouf Ayadi called on Jebali to resign, dismissing his demands as "impulsive.”
The Democratic Forum for Labour and Liberties [FDTL] and Tunisia’s Republican party have both weighed in behind the Prime Minister.
Following deliberations with Jebali and National Constituent Assembly speaker Mustapha Ben Jaafar, President Moncef Marzouki ordered flags to be flown at half mast over state buildings to commemorate Tunisian opposition figure Chokri Belaid, for three days beginning on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile Belaid's chauffeur, Ziyad al-Tahri, who was present at the shooting, has been detained for questioning by police.
A neighbour in Belaid's building has come forward, claiming she witnessed the incident firsthand on Wednesday morning.
The eyewitness claimed that approximately 0744 hrs a man walked by the car waiting for Belaid and spoke to the driver.
Belaid then came outside and entered the car, sitting in the passenger’s seat.
Two assailants on a motorcycle then drove next to the car, shooting Belaid four times.
The eyewitness insisted that the driver did not become agitated and did not behave as if he were surprised or shocked.
"I will say it and repeat it,” the neighbour said. “I am certain the driver is involved and knew about it beforehand."
Belaid's brother has meanwhile claimed that the building's porter had recognised the two men implicated in the shooting.
Security forces and members of the public saluted Belaid's body on Thursday noon as it was transported from his residence to his father's home.
Protests have continued to rock Tunisia in response to the killing.
At least 10 police stations and Ennahda offices have been torched and the Sfax town hall was broken into, security sources announced.
Teargas has been used to disperse demonstrators in various cities around the country.
The late politician's funeral is slated for Friday noon. The funeral procession will set off from Dar al-Thakafa towards the al-Jalaz cemetery.
Qatar, Algeria, France, the US and Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood have all condemned the killing, while the Egyptian opposition bloc, the National Salvation Front [NSF] expressed anxiety that the phenomenon of political assassinations could spread to Egypt.