Popular Front (Tunisia)
| Popular Front الجبهة الشعبية Front populaire | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Spokesperson | Hamma Hammami[1] |
| Founded | 7 October 2012 |
| Ideology |
Marxism–Leninism (majority faction), Arab nationalism (minority faction) Secularism[2] |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| National affiliation | National Salvation Front[3] |
| Constituent Assembly |
8 / 217 |
| Website | |
|
front-populaire.org Facebook page | |
|
Politics of Tunisia Political parties Elections | |
The Popular Front, or the Popular Front for the realization of the objectives of the revolution, is a leftist electoral alliance in Tunisia, made up of twelve political parties and numerous independents.
The coalition was formed in October 2012, bringing together 12 mainly left wing Tunisian parties including the Democratic Patriots' Movement, with the Workers' Party, Green Tunisia, the Movement of Socialist Democrats (which has left), the Tunisian Ba'ath Movement and Party of the Democratic Arab Vanguard, two different parties of the Iraqi branch of Ba'ath Party, and other Progressive parties.[4]. Approximately 15,000 attended the coalitions first meeting in Tunis.[5]
History
The 2011 Tunisian Revolution saw the departure of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the dissolution of his party, the Constitutional Democratic Rally, and the holding of fresh elections for the creation of a new constitution. This saw the Tunisian political scene dominated by the Islamist Ennahda Movement, and its allies the Democratic Forum for Labour and Liberties, the Progressive Democratic Party, and the Congress for the Republic.
Former Prime Minister Beji Caid el Sebsi then decided to return to Tunisian political life, and formed a new party known as the Call for Tunisia, which is mostly composed of secular Tunisians, including centrists and those who are more right wing, including former supporters of the RCD. Twelve leftist parties then decided to form a Popular Front in order to better consolidate the previously divided Tunisian left wing so as to be able to compete more effectively in the upcoming elections.[6][7]
Murder of Chokri Belaid
The 48-year-old coordinator of the Popular Front coalition, Chokri Belaid, was killed by an unknown gunman on 6 February 2013. An estimated 1,400,000 people took part in his funeral,[8] while protesters clashed with police and Ennahda supporters,[9] who held a separate rally, attended by an estimated 15,000 people, on the day of the funeral defending the party against calls to give up power.[2] The ruling Ennahda Movement denied involvement in his death.[2] The Popular Front, along with the secular Republican Party and Call of Tunisia, subsequently announced they would withdraw from the national assembly and call for a general strike.[9] On 9 April 2013, Mohamed Brahmi, General Secretary of the minor People's Movement, which holds 2 seats in the National Constituent Assembly, announced the decision of his party to join the Popular Front.[10]
Murder of Mohamed Brahmi
On 25 July 2013, Mohamed Brahmi, a member of the Popular Front, was assassinated. Numerous protests erupted in the streets following his assassination. The protests are still ongoing as of 26 July.
Member parties
Marxist–Leninist parties
- Workers' Party led by Hamma Hammami
- Democratic Patriots' Movement (MOUPAD) formerly led by Chokri Belaid, currently led by Ziad Lakhdhar
- Patriots Democrats (Watad) led by Jamel Lazhar
- Party of Progressive Struggle (PLP) led by Mohamed Lassoued
Other parties
- Workers’ Left League (LGO) led by Jalel Ben Brik Zoghlami - Trotskyist
- Popular Party for Liberty and Progress (PPLP) led by Jalloul Azzouna - Socialist
- Unionist Popular Front led by Amor Mejri - Pan-Arab Marxist
- People's Movement[10] formerly led by Mohamed Brahmi - Nasserism
- Tunisian Ba'ath Movement led by Othmen Bel Haj Amor - Ba'athist, part of the pro-Iraqi Ba'ath movement
- Party of the Democratic Arab Vanguard led by Kheireddine Souabni - Ba'athist, also linked to the pro-Iraqi Ba'ath movement.
- Green Tunisia led by Abdelkader Zitouni - Green politics
References
- ↑ "Popular Front Opposition Quits Tunisian Assembly After Chokri Belaid's Murder". Huffington Post. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Tunisian PM fails to form technocratic government". Mmegi. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ↑ Popular Front, Union for Tunisia meet to form national salvation body, Tunis Africa Presse, 28 July 2013, retrieved 15 September 2013
- ↑ Tunisia: A new stage in left regroupment
- ↑ Popular Front is Born
- ↑ "Tunisian opposition groups call a strike, pull out of national assembly". Al Arabiya. 6 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
- ↑ Yasmine Ryan (23 October 2012). "Features Tunisian politicians struggle to deliver". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
- ↑ Tunisie: Plus d’un million de Tunisiens aux obsèques de Chokri Belaïd
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Tunisia pledges new govt after opposition leader's killing". Daily Star. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Tunisia: 'Echaab' Movement Joins Popular Front"
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