Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda becomes biggest in parliament as ruling party splits

A man attaches a picture of Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi during a meeting with Mohsen Marzouk in Tunis, Tunisia January 10, 2016. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

TUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia's moderate Islamist Ennahda became the biggest party in parliament on Monday after more lawmakers in President Beji Caid Essebsi's party resigned over the role of his son, saying they feared a return of hereditary transfers of power.

The rift poses no immediate threat to the coalition government, which includes Ennahda, but comes at a delicate time as the North African state struggles to contain Islamist militant violence and revive economic growth.