[Maghrebia] A heated debate is raging in Tunisia over the creation of a special body to monitor the current government.A group of 28 parties and organisations of various political hues on February 15th called for the establishment of the National Council for the Protection of the Revolution, "in dedication to the principles of the revolution, so as to counter all attempts to abort the revolution and shove the country into a state of vacuum".
The proposed body seeks to "honour those who bit the dust" and "uphold the aspirations" of the Tunisian people. Among the main pillars of the body are the Ennahda Movement, the January 14th Front and the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT).
It will "give the new government its legitimacy", said Democratic Forum for Labour and Liberties (FDTL) member Khalil Zaouia.
"At present, the government is weak and its legitimacy is fragile," added Zaouia, whose group signed the Council founding statement. "We need to set up some supervising council to monitor decrees issued by the government, decrees that can affect democracy in the future."
The interim government has been accused of trying to undermine the revolution by appointing officials from the former Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) in decision-making positions, delaying constitutional reform, refraining from terminating the state security body and failing to abolish freedom-curbing laws.
In his February 17th televised address, Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi maintained that "among the most important tasks of the transitional government is arranging free, transparent elections with credibility to be conducted under international supervision".
"Laws must be amended in a manner that agrees with the necessities and requirements of building democracy," he said.
The watchdog body plans on submitting a request to interim president Foued Mebazaa to issue a decree to endorse its establishment.
In his turn, National Development Minister Ahmed Najib Chebbi on February 15th expressed his astonishment at a council that refuses to recognise the present government as legitimate and yet asks the president to endorse its existence.
"Who granted that council legitimacy to appoint itself as a guardian of the revolution?" he wondered.
"Legitimising that council through a presidential decree will only create duality of authority that can lead up to a political crisis which might hinder democratic transition," Higher Education Minister and Ettajdid Movement leader Ahmed Brahim concurred.
Based on its statement, the institution aims to have decision-making powers, the capacity to formulate and approve the legislations related to the transitional government, annul laws contrary to freedoms and monitor the performance of the caretaker government. It would also select officials for superior posts and reconsider the committees formed in terms of their powers and make-up. Any committee propositions would be automatically referred to the Council for approval.
The initiative touched off strong reactions among policy-makers and ordinary citizens alike.