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May 20, 2016: Speech by Béji Caïd Essebsi, with Rached Ghannouchi in the background, at the opening of the 10th Ennahda Movement Congress in the large sports arena in Radès, attended by several thousand Ennahda activists and delegates. But the highlight of the event was undoubtedly the presence and speech of Béji Caïd Essebsi, President of the Republic, who was elected over a year ago on the back of an anti-Ennahdha campaign, yet with whom he has since had to share power: “I want to be frank with you—I hesitated to come,” he said. But “I came out of respect for this party’s efforts to support the consensus on national reconciliation.”The opening ceremony took place in the presence of the Speaker of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, Mohamed Ennaceur; members of the governing coalition; parties represented and not represented in parliament; members of parliament; and national figures—a spectacle where it was good to be seen. This convention is intended to mark a turning point in the movement’s history by formalizing the separation of political and religious activities. Over the weekend, the party—for which a name change is being discussed—is set to evaluate its performance and take stock of its two years in power as part of a “troika.” It is also expected to adopt political, economic, and social “roadmaps” for the coming years.

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