Tunisia PM to form new government after assassination
Prime minister to dissolve Islamist-led cabinet and form a government of 'technocrats'
Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali said on Wednesday he would form a government of technocrats without political affiliations, after the murder of opposition leader Chokri Belaid sparked violent protests.
“I have decided to form a government of competent nationals without political affiliation, which will have a mandate limited to managing the affairs of the country until elections are held in the shortest possible time,” Jebali said in a televised address to the nation.
I have decided to form a government of competent nationals without political affiliation, which will have a mandate limited to managing the affairs of the country until elections are held
He did not explicitly say that he was dissolving the existing government, nor did he name future ministers or set a date for the cabinet reshuffle, which must be confirmed by the national assembly.
Jebali’s announcement comes after a months-long impasse between his Islamist party Ennahda and its secular coalition partners over the distribution of ministries.
Jebali said that plans to form a government of technocrats had stalled before the “odious [killing] that has shocked our people.”
[Belaid’s] assassination has quickened my decision, for which I assume full responsibility before God and before our people
The secular parties in government have been demanding that key ministries be assigned to independents, a move rejected by Ennahda hardliners, including party head Rached Ghannouchi.