Tunisian president names technocrat as prime minister
Tunisia's President Beji Caid Essebsi named a little-known technocrat as prime minister on August 3 after parliament ousted Habib Essid in a vote of no-confidence over his handling of economic reforms and security.
 |
Opposition parties quickly denounced the appointment of Youssef Chahed, an agricultural science specialist and junior minister under Essid, saying he lacked the credentials for the job and had been chosen simply because he was a pliant ally of the president.
Since its 2011 revolution to oust Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia has grown into a model of democracy in a turbulent region.
But Islamist militant attacks on tourist spots last year have tested the government, and political infighting in the ruling coalition has slowed economic progress needed to ease social tensions especially among the young employed.
Essebsi had been pushing for a new national unity government in an attempt to overcome Tunisia's current woes.
Chahed, who is also a senior member of the secular Nidaa Tounes party, told reporters, "The president has put me in charge of the national unity government. This is a message of confidence for young people also. In this delicate time, we need a lot of audacious decisions."
"Our priorities are a war on corruption, winning the war on terrorism, push for growth and balancing public finances," he said.
