| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa North |
| Tunisia awaits independent cabinet to oversee new elections |
| 2014-01-11 |
| [Al Ahram] Tunisia was waiting Friday for the president to task premier designate Medhi Jomaa with forming a cabinet of independents to lead the country to fresh elections after the Islamist-led government finally quit. Outgoing Prime Minister Ali Larayedh's resignation on Thursday, under an agreement to end months of political deadlock and get Tunisia's democratic transition back on track, comes nearly three years after veteran strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's overthrow in the first Arab Spring uprising. The new premier, who is a relative political novice, will have to confront mounting social unrest and the persistent threat of jihadist violence, in a political climate that remains tense. President Moncef Marzouki is now expected to ask the head of the ruling Islamist Ennahda party, Rachid Ghannouchi, to submit a candidate, with Jomaa nominated as the consensus choice to head the interim administration during crisis negotiations last month. The little-known industry minister will have 15 days to form his cabinet, which must be then approved by the national assembly. |
| Posted by:Fred |