French name Front populaire Spokesperson Hamma Hammami | Abbreviation ej-Jabha Parties See member parties | |
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Founded October 7, 2012 (2012-10-07) Ideology Socialism
Secularism
Factions
Arab nationalism
Arab socialism
Ba'athism
Hoxhaism
Marxism
Marxism–Leninism
Nasserism
Pan-Arabism
Trotskyism | ||
The Popular Front for the Realization of the Objectives of the Revolution (Arabic: الجبهة الشعبية لتحقيق أهداف الثورة; French: Front populaire pour la réalisation des objectifs de la révolution), short Popular Front (ej-Jabha), is a leftist political and electoral alliance in Tunisia, made up of nine political parties and numerous independents.
Contents
The coalition was formed in October 2012, bringing together 12 mainly left-wing Tunisian parties including the Democratic Patriots' Unified Party, the Workers' Party, Green Tunisia, the Movement of Socialist Democrats (which has left), the Tunisian Ba'ath Movement and Arab Democratic Vanguard Party, two different parties of the Iraqi branch of Ba'ath Party, and other progressive parties. The number of parties involved in the coalition has since decreased to nine. Approximately 15,000 people attended the coalition's first meeting in Tunis.
History
The Tunisian Revolution in 2011 saw the departure of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the dissolution of his party, the Democratic Constitutional 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 Béji Caïd Essebsi then decided to return to Tunisian political life, and formed a new party known as the Nidaa Tounes, 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.
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, while protesters clashed with police and Ennahda supporters, 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. The ruling Ennahda Movement denied involvement in his death. The Popular Front, along with the secular Republican Party and Nidaa Tounes, subsequently announced they would withdraw from the national assembly and call for a general strike. 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.
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.
Current
Former
These parties were temporarily affiliated with the Popular Front, but have left it: