Ennahda Party (Tunisia)

The Ennahda Party (Arabic: Ḥizb an-Nahḍa), meaning Renaissance Party, is a prominent political movement in Tunisia that emerged from the country’s Islamic reformist tradition. It has played a central role in Tunisia’s transition from authoritarianism to democracy following the 2011 Jasmine Revolution, positioning itself as a moderate Islamist force committed to pluralism, democratic governance, and national reconciliation.

Origins and Ideological Foundation

The Ennahda Party traces its roots to the Islamic Tendency Movement (MTI), founded in 1981 by Rached Ghannouchi and Abdelfattah Mourou. The movement drew inspiration from the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt but evolved in a distinct Tunisian context. It combined Islamic values with modernist political ideas, advocating democracy, human rights, and social justice through an Islamic framework.
The MTI arose as a reaction to the secular authoritarianism of President Habib Bourguiba, whose government pursued strict secular policies, including the restriction of religious education and public expressions of faith. The MTI sought to reconcile Islam with Tunisia’s modern state by proposing an indigenous, reformist political Islam grounded in dialogue and gradualism rather than confrontation.
The party was banned in 1989, and many of its leaders were imprisoned or forced into exile under President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who viewed it as a threat to his regime’s secular orientation.

Role in the 2011 Revolution and Political Re-emergence

The Tunisian Revolution of 2011 overthrew Ben Ali’s government, creating an opening for democratic reform. In the new political environment, the MTI re-emerged legally under the name Ennahda Party. Its leadership, including Ghannouchi, returned from exile to participate in the democratic transition.
Ennahda quickly gained substantial popular support, largely due to its perceived moral integrity, grassroots organisation, and appeal to conservative Muslim values in a newly free society. In the 2011 National Constituent Assembly elections, Ennahda won 89 of 217 seats, emerging as the largest party.

Participation in Government (2011–2014)

After the elections, Ennahda formed a coalition government known as the Troika, with two secular partners — the Congress for the Republic (CPR) and Ettakatol. The coalition’s main task was to draft a new democratic constitution.
During this period, Ennahda faced significant challenges:

• Balancing religion and state: The party chose not to enshrine Islamic law (Sharia) in the constitution, emphasising civil governance while recognising Islam’s cultural role.
• Managing socio-economic unrest: Persistent unemployment and inflation tested the new government’s credibility.
• Political violence: The assassinations of leftist leaders Chokri Belaid (2013) and Mohamed Brahmi (2013) triggered nationwide protests and accusations of government inaction against Islamist extremism.

In response to growing polarisation, Ennahda agreed to a national dialogue brokered by civil society, which led to its voluntary resignation from government in January 2014 to enable the formation of a technocratic caretaker administration — a move widely credited with preserving Tunisia’s democratic process.

Political Evolution and Ideological Transformation

By 2016, Ennahda formally declared itself a “Muslim Democratic” party rather than an “Islamist” one, similar in tone to Christian Democratic parties in Europe. This ideological shift was codified at its 10th Party Congress, where it announced a clear separation between religious activities and political work.
This transition reflected a strategic adaptation to Tunisia’s secular political environment and was aimed at reassuring both domestic and international observers about Ennahda’s commitment to democracy and pluralism. The party now presents itself as a centrist, conservative, and reform-oriented political actor advocating:

• Democratic governance and separation of powers.
• Economic reforms supporting entrepreneurship and social equity.
• Women’s participation in politics.
• Protection of civil rights within an Islamic ethical framework.

Electoral Performance and Role in Democratic Consolidation

Ennahda remained a major player in Tunisia’s successive elections:

• In the 2014 parliamentary elections, it secured 69 seats, becoming the second-largest party after the secular Nidaa Tounes. It joined a national unity government in 2015 to stabilise the political environment.
• In 2019, it won 52 seats, regaining first place but without a majority, leading to complex coalition negotiations.
• Ennahda supported the election of Kais Saied as President in 2019 but later became one of his main critics following his consolidation of power in 2021.

Crisis and Political Suppression After 2021

In July 2021, President Kais Saied invoked emergency powers under Article 80 of the Constitution to suspend Parliament and dismiss the government, citing political paralysis and economic crisis. Ennahda denounced the move as a “coup” against democracy.
Following these actions:

• The party’s offices were raided, and several of its members faced arrests or travel bans.
• Rached Ghannouchi, who had served as Speaker of Parliament, was detained in 2023 on charges of conspiracy against state security.
• The authorities banned political meetings and froze party accounts, effectively curtailing Ennahda’s political activities.

These developments marked a severe setback for Tunisia’s democratic experiment and a regression toward executive dominance.

Criticism and Controversies

While Ennahda has been praised for its pragmatism and commitment to dialogue, it has also faced criticism from various quarters:

• Secularists accuse it of harbouring an Islamist agenda under a moderate façade.
• Islamists accuse it of abandoning Islamic principles for political expediency.
• Civil society groups have criticised its handling of socio-economic issues and governance inefficiencies during its time in power.

Nevertheless, Ennahda’s willingness to compromise and participate in pluralistic politics distinguishes it from many Islamist movements in the region.