Tunisia’s Opposition Divisions Exposed by October 17 March

An October 17 march in Tunisia has stirred debate over the opposition’s future, highlighting divisions that continue to hamper efforts to build a united alternative to President Kais Saied’s rule.

The debate centres on whether opposition forces can form a new political alliance despite their differences. Their inability to present a common platform remains a major obstacle to offering a way out of the country’s crisis.

The roles of the Tunisian labour union and the Ennahda movement are central to those discussions. Their place in any future coalition raises difficult questions about its composition and the scope for cooperation among divided political forces.

The march has brought those unresolved questions into sharper focus. Opposition to Saied has not translated into agreement on a shared political alternative or a common path forward.

For Tunisia’s opposition, the challenge extends beyond mobilising protests. It must also overcome the divisions preventing it from presenting a unified response to the country’s political crisis.