TUNIS: Tunisia’s ruling party chief has said the government will not step down under pressure from the opposition, even as fresh protests were being readied Tuesday to demand just that.

Rached Ghannouchi’s remarks, published by La Presse newspaper, will likely deepen a crisis that has gripped the North African nation since a political assassination in February was followed by another last month.

“There are excessive demands at protests for the dissolution of the elected government,” Ghannouchi told La Presse.

“In democratic regimes, protests don’t change governments; it’s under dictatorial regimes that a demonstration is able to topple a regime.

“Unfortunately every time a tragedy hits us, we immediately call for the dissolution of the government and Parliament,” Ghannouchi added.

A mixed bag of opposition parties, running from the extreme left to the center-right, is planning a massive protest in Tunis at 2000 GMT to mark six months since opposition politician Chokri Belaid was gunned down outside his home.

Government detractors say the Ennahda-led Cabinet has failed to rein in radicals blamed for Belaid’s murder and the assassination of MP Mohamed Brahmi on July 25.

They are also calling for the dissolution of the National Constituent Assembly, which was elected nearly two years ago and has still not managed to complete its task of writing a new constitution.

The NCA was due to gather on Tuesday to discuss the crisis. The powerful, half-million strong Tunisian General Labour Union, has issued a call for its members to join Tuesday night’s demonstration. However, it does not back demands for the NCA to be dissolved.