Tunisia’s new unity govt takes office

AFP, TUNIS, TUNISia: The new Tunisian unity government took office in the birthplace of the Arab Spring Monday, with Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, the country’s youngest-ever leader, facing major economic and security challenges. At 40, Chahed is Tunisia’s youngest premier since independence from France in 1956, and the seventh in less than six years since the 2011 uprising that ousted strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
His new cabinet of 26 ministers and 14 ministers of state includes women, “young” and independent ministers, three members of the Islamist Ennahda party and two former members of the powerful UGTT union.
It formally took office on Monday at a ceremony in Carthage just outside Tunis during which outgoing premier Habib Essid, 67, handed over power.
“I hope this government will last,” Essid said. “The worst thing for this country is the government changing ever year or year and a half.”

 

Tunisias new unity govt takes office

AFP, TUNIS, TUNISia: The new Tunisian unity government took office in the birthplace of the Arab Spring Monday, with Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, the countrys youngest-ever leader, facing major economic and security challenges. At 40, Chahed is Tunisias youngest premier since independence from France in 1956, and the seventh in less than six years since the 2011 uprising that ousted strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. His new cabinet of 26 ministers and 14 ministers of state includes women, young and independent ministers, three members of the Islamist Ennahda party and two former members of the powerful UGTT union. It formally took office on Monday at a ceremony in Carthage just outside Tunis during which outgoing premier Habib Essid, 67, handed over power. I hope this government will last, Essid said. The worst thing for this country is the government changing ever year or year and a half.