TUNIS, Tunisia — Independent politicians and activists announced April 17 the formation of the National Union of Independents to run in the legislative and presidential elections scheduled for October and November 2019, respectively.

The alliance consists of five civil society organizations: Fekra (Arabic for "idea"), Qadiroon ("capable"), Nejmet Tunis ("Star of Tunisia"), Yehya al-Shaeb ("long live the people") and Tunis al-Aziza ("Dear Tunisia"). It embraces a progressive platform and seeks to unify Tunisia's independents and to develop a road map to end the economic crisis.

The champions of the initiative are banking on the triumph of the independents in the May 2018 local elections, Tunisia's first. They won nearly 33% of the vote, beating out the Ennahda Movement, which obtained around 30%, and Nidaa Tunis, which won nearly 22%.

In an April 17 press conference, the alliance stated that Tunisians have lost trust in the politicians who failed to keep their promises and have proven unable to compete with Ennahda, which dominates the political landscape.