Tunisian political parties held final talks Saturday to choose an interim leader to end the country's political deadlock, according to Agence France-Presse.
Tunisia's UGTT union acted as the mediator of Saturday's talks and has served as the intermediary between the Islamist party Ennahda leadership and the country's opposition since transition talks began earlier this year.
Saturday's negotiations follow 92-year-old candidate Mustapha Filali's announcement that he is "too old" to serve as a candidate for the proposed interim government. Filali was the Islamist-led government's candidate for the interim Prime Minister spot.
Negotiations regarding the government transition have been underway since October when Ennahda leadership and the opposition agreed upon a roadmap brokered by UGTT to establish a new government led by independents. The roadmap initially called for an interim PM to be appointed by early November, but the deadline has been repeatedly postponed with factions divided over who to elect to the premier position.
The assassination of opposition MP Mohammed Brahmi in July launched the north African country into turmoil and political deadlock with opposition leaders largely accusing the Ennahda leadership for Brahmi's death and widespread corruption and lack of social services throughout the country more generally.
