The National Constituent Assembly (NCA) adopted yesterday 12 articles from the bill of the Independent Higher Authority of the Election (ISIE) after 3 consecutive plenary sessions this week.

The NCA is soon to adopt fully the ISIE bill, which contains a total of 36 articles. Today’s plenary session was dedicated to finding a consensus regarding Article 6 and a number of paragraphs to be added to other articles.

Representatives from opposition parties, though, are boycotting the NCA’s plenary sessions since yesterday and will continue through Monday, December 10.

According to Hajer Aziz, a NCA representative affiliated with the ruling Ennahdha party, the political parties that were absent yesterday were Al-Mubadara, Al Aridha, Progressive Democratic Party, and Nidaa Tounes.

“They [representatives from the opposition] refused to attend the plenary sessions in order to disrupt the assembly’s actions and not finish the ISIE bill,” said Aziz.

“Boycotting the plenary sessions is a betrayal to one’s country as well as to the people whom they represent,” she continued.

The boycott of plenary sessions prompted Samia Abbou, a NCA member belonging to the Congress for Republic party (CPR), to speak out as well. In yesterday’s plenary session, she addressed her absent colleagues, “You should stop the boycott and participate in tomorrow’s plenary session to vote for the full ISIE bill.”

Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, president of the opposition Al-Joumhouri party

“Do not miss such a crucial day.”

Members of the opposition, meanwhile, explained in a press conference yesterday that they resorted to the boycott due to a lack of dialogue with the ruling government.

“We resorted to boycott to protest against the government’s refusal to open dialogue with us and listen to our demands. We protest against Moncef Marzouki’s indifference, and express our repudiation to what happened in Siliana and in the square of Mohamed Ali against the UGTT,” said Ahmed Najib Chebbi, president of the opposition Al-Joumhouri party, to Tunisia Live.