Runner-up party says Tunisia will have better relations with Turkey in future

TUNIS (A.A) - October 30, 2011 - The leader of the runner up party in last week's Tunisian elections said on Sunday that Tunisia would have better relations with Turkey in the future. Moncef Marzouki, the leader of the Congress for the Republic (CPR), said that they had great sympathy towards Turkey. "Turkey is a good model as it preserves its national identity and culture and it opens to the world with its democratic and economic achievements at the same time," Marzouki told AA correspondent in an exclusive interview. Marzouki thanked Turkish executives who backed Arab and Palestinian causes, and expressed hope that Turkey and Tunisia, as two Mediterranean countries, would boost their economic and cultural relations.  Moreover, Marzouki said a coalition government had to be set up as soon as possible in order to solve problems in Tunisia. Marzouki expressed thought that it would not take a long time to form a coalition government, including CPR, and said what was important was inclusion of his party in government and the support his party would extend to reforms. Then, his presidential candidacy could be a matter of discussion, Marzouki said. Tunisia's electoral commission officially declared on Friday Ennahda party as winner of Tunisia's election, taking 41.47 percent of the vote and 90 of 217 seats in an assembly that will write a new constitution. The Congress for the Republic party, founded in 2001, came in second place by winning 13.82 percent of votes and thus acquiring 30 seats, and Ettakatol party came the third with 9.68 percent and won 21 seats. A coalition government, lead by Ennahda party, is expected to be formed within ten days.