Political fissures widened between Islamist-inspired party An-Nahda and other parties while debate over type of political system to adopt intensified. An-Nahda party faced increasing pressure amid fear of being marginalised by new political front comprising partner and opposition parties: 11 MPs of total 38 belonging to parliamentary coalition partner Qalb Tounes resigned in May; President of Free Destourian Party and MP Abir Moussi 22 May organised parliament sit-in targeting An-Nahda president and Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi. General Tunisian Labour Union Sec Gen Noureddine Taboubi 18 May called for popular referendum to change political system; move seen as endorsement of presidential system proposed by President Saïed and against current parliamentary regime supported by An-Nahda. Ghannouchi 19 May in telephone call congratulated Libyan PM Fayez al-Sarraj on capture of strategic Wutiya airbase in western Libya and stressed need for political solution to conflict; seven opposition parties next day denounced Ghannouchi’s actions as dragging Tunisia into Libya’s conflict and requested President Saïed’s intervention.

Following two-week dispute between Speaker of Parliament Rached Ghannouchi, President Saïed and PM Fakhfakh, parliament 4 April approved govt request for emergency powers to contain spread of COVID-19 and mitigate economic impact. Interior Ministry 4 April announced soldiers and national guard forces in Kasserine governate killed two members of Islamic State (ISIS) affiliate, Jund al Khilafa. Interior Ministry 16 April announced it foiled alleged plot to spread COVID-19 among security forces; two men arrested in Kebili governate, including suspected member of militant group.

Two suicide bombers 6 March attacked security post near U.S. embassy in capital Tunis killing themselves and one policeman.

PM Fakhfakh 19 Feb formed coalition govt comprising mainly independent ministers, to which parliament gave vote of confidence 27 Feb with 129 votes to 77; govt excluded Qalb Tounes, party of media mogul Nabil Karoui, which has second-largest parliamentary bloc with 38 MPs, and populist forces Karama coalition (fifteen seats in parliament) and Free Destourian party (seventeen seats). An-Nahda 17 Feb announced (and later retracted) intention to halt negotiations to form new govt. Interior Ministry 11 Feb announced discovery of terrorist training camp in Kasserine governorate in west and seizure of materials for manufacturing explosives. Govt 25 Feb announced joint operation which killed two members of Islamic State affiliate, Jund al Khilafa.

Political polarisation grew as attempts to form govt failed. Parliament 10 Jan rejected govt proposed by PM-designate Habib Jemli, with only 72 of 217 MPs voting in favour. President Saïed 20 Jan named former finance minister and candidate in 2019 presidential election Elyes Fakhfakh as new PM and tasked him with forming new govt by 15 March. Fakhfakh opened consultations with ten party leaders to build majority of 109 MPs needed to form govt. Islamist-inspired party An-Nahda 27 Jan threatened to reject govt if consultations did not include all parties in parliament. Fakhfakh 29 Jan unveiled policy priorities of his future govt, indicating tackling poverty, inequality and unemployment as urgent goals. President of Free Destourian Party (FDP) and MP Abir Moussi 14 Jan called for dismissal of Islamist-inspired party An-Nahda president Rached Ghannouchi from parliament speaker position for treason following his visit to Turkey, where he met with Turkish President Erdoğan 11 Jan. Supporters of radical right-wing political group Karama coalition 16 Jan assaulted Moussi and other FDP members in parliament building.

PM-designate Habib Jemli 12 Dec asked President Saïed to push back 15 Dec deadline to form govt by one month until 15 Jan. Jemli continued consultations with party leaders to build majority of 109 MPs needed to form govt.

Following legislative elections in Oct, new parliament 13 Nov elected Rached Ghannouchi, president of Islamist-inspired party An-Nahda, as speaker. An-Nahda, exercising its right as winner of most seats in Oct legislative polls, 15 Nov nominated former agriculture secretary of state, Habib Jemli, as PM and President Saïed same day tasked him with forming govt.

In second round of presidential elections 13 Oct, constitutional law professor with no political affiliation Kaïs Saïed won with 72.7% of votes, beating media mogul Nabil Karoui. In light of Karoui’s incarceration, Saïed 5 Oct stopped campaigning to ensure level playing field and avoid cancellation of second round. Appeal court 9 Oct freed Karoui, giving him several days to campaign. Saïed sworn in as president 23 Oct. In legislative elections 6 Oct, Islamist-inspired party An-Nahda won most seats with 52 out of 217, ahead of Karoui’s liberal party Heart of Tunisia, which won 38, according to preliminary results. An-Nahda launched consultations with several parties represented in parliament and independent MPs to form majority in parliament and then govt. PM Chahed 29 Oct dismissed foreign affairs and defence ministers and secretary of state for diplomacy, reportedly after consultation with President Saïed. Unidentified assailant killed French tourist and injured soldier with knife in Bizerte in north 14 Oct. Security forces arrested suspect next day, his motivations remained unclear.

Two political outsiders won most votes in first round of presidential election 15 Sept and will face off in second round 13 Oct; authorities could use incarceration of one, Nabil Karoui, as grounds for cancelling second round or nullifying results, risking constitutional void and power vacuum, as interim presidency ends 24 Oct, and street protests if rival camps mobilise supporters. Kaïs Saïed, constitutional law professor with no political affiliation, came first with 18.4%, followed by imprisoned media businessman Nabil Karoui with 15.6%. Turnout was low at 49%. Parties continued campaigning ahead of 6 Oct legislative elections. Former President Ben Ali, who fled country in Jan 2011, died in Saudi Arabia 19 Sept.

Following death of President Essebsi 25 July, preparations accelerated for presidential elections 15 Sept and legislative elections 6 Oct. Electoral commission 14 Aug approved 26 of 91 candidacies submitted for 15 Sept early presidential elections, including front-runners businessman Nabil Karoui, PM Chahed, Defence Minister Abdelkarim Zbidi, former President Marzouki, and Islamist party An-Nahda’s VP Abdelfattah Mourou. PM Chahed 22 Aug said he had delegated his powers to Public Service Minister Morjane to focus on his campaign and ensure fair elections. Police 23 Aug arrested Karoui on charges of money laundering and tax evasion and banned his TV channel Nessma TV from reporting on elections; Karoui’s party next day claimed PM Chahed orchestrated arrest. Electoral commission 24 Aug said Karoui’s candidacy remained valid despite arrest. Interim President Ennaceur 2 Aug prolonged nationwide state of emergency for one additional month and 30 Aug extended it until 31 Dec. Govt 3 Aug said security forces had killed two suspected jihadists in Gafsa in south.