Hechmi Hamdi renounces to withdrawal of ''Al-Aridha'' tickets from NCA

Mr. Hechmi Hamdi, Chairman of "Al-Aridha" (People's Petition for Freedom), announced on Friday, that he renounced to the withdrawal of "Al-Aridha" tickets which won seats in the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) elections. He had decided last Thursday evening, to withdraw his tickets as a protest against the disqualification by the Independent Higher Authority for the Elections (IHAE) of "Al-Aridha" tickets winners in six precincts including that of Sidi Bouzid, his native region. Speaking from London on the private "Hannibal" TV channel, Mr. Hamdi assured that he renounced to this decision after the telephone talks he had had with Tunisian officials, in particular Independent Higher Authority for the Elections (IHAE) Chairman Kamel Jendoubi. "Mr. Kamel Jendoubi advised me to resort to the administrative tribunal and appeal against the disqualification of my party's tickets," he explained. Mr. Hamdi urged the invalidated tickets' chief candidates to file appeals to the administrative tribunal on Saturday. The decision to disqualify "Al Aridha" tickets brought about protests in the governorate of Sidi Bouzid on Thursday evening, which ended up in acts of violence and destruction. "Al-Aridha" leader called the inhabitants of Sidi Bouzid to stop violence to preserve the community's gains. Besides, Mr. Hechmi Hamdi exhorted Mr. Iyadh Ben Achour, Chairman of the Higher Authority for the Achievement of the Revolution Objectives and Mr. Kamel Jendoubi to "intercede for him" with Ennahda Movement leaders to "favour a reconciliation" and iron out divergences. During the news conference of the proclamation of results, and by virtue of the decree-law organising  NCA elections, notably the articles on the electoral campaign's funding, IHAE decided on Thursday evening, to disqualify the tickets of "Al Aridha" in the constituencies of Tataouine, Sfax-I, Jendouba, Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid and France II.