Maghreb Edition

Tunisia: Former minister asked to form government after assembly rejected his predecessor

Posted On 21 January 2020

Number of times this article was read : 257

Tunis, Jan 20, 2020 – Former finance minister Elyes Fakhfakh was named prime minister-designate by Tunisia’s president late Monday, and will now face the difficult task of forming a cabinet within a month. Newly elected President Kais Saied “on Monday mandated Mr Elyes Fakhfakh with forming a government as soon as possible,” the presidency said in a statement. Fakhfakh’s proposal will have to gain the approval of a divided parliament, which this month rejected an earlier attempt to form a government. After months of negotiations that followed elections last October, parliament dismissed a cabinet list proposed under the leadership of the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party. Ennahdha won more seats than any other party in October’s legislative election, but was still far short of a majority.

If Fakhfakh fails to form a government, the next step would be dissolution of the assembly. Fakhfakh, 47, was named minister of tourism in 2011 before serving as minister of finance from December 2012 until January 2014. An engineer and manager trained in France, he returned to Tunisia in 2006 after several years working abroad. He became involved in politics after Tunisia’s 2011 revolution, joining the Ettakatol party, which had allied with Ennahdha. Fakhfakh ran in the 2019 presidential election but only gained 0.34 percent of votes in the first round.

Tunisia is currently run by an outgoing government led by Prime Minister Youssef Chahed. Many positions are vacant pending the appointment of a new cabinet. The candidate for prime minister initially designated by Ennahdha, Habib Jemli, proposed a cabinet of independents. On January 14, Tunisia marked the ninth anniversary of the overthrow of long-ruling dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, amid economic gloom. The country is struggling to meet the expectations of its population, while an assistance package started by the International Monetary Fund in 2016 ends in April.

By AFP

The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Benin Soldiers Mount Brief Coup Attempt

In the span of a few hours on December 7, a small group of soldiers in Benin, West Africa, moved from night‑time attacks on senior officers’ homes to a televized announcement claiming they had removed President Patrice Talon and suspended the constitution. Forces loyal to the government swiftly retook the national broadcaster and key positions in Cotonou, and authorities now say the coup attempt has been defeated even as some officers remain missing and questions about the mutineers’ support network persist.

Tunisia’s Main Union Calls Nationwide Strike Amid Political Tensions

Tunisia’s largest trade union, the UGTT, has called a nationwide general strike for January 21, 2025, to protest growing pressure on critics and the suspension of traditional wage talks with the government. The move marks a sharp escalation in a country where the union once brokered democratic compromise but now warns that political centralization, economic hardship, and stalled social dialogue are pushing Tunisia toward a new period of instability.

Morocco: Ex-Minister and Lawyer, Mohamed Ziane Still in Detention

Morocco’s former minister Mohamed Ziane remains in detention due to two separate criminal cases, one finalized and one still under cassation review. Authorities argue the detention is legally required, while international rights groups challenge aspects of the proceedings.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.