Tunisia has a new government on Monday, eleven weeks after the ousting of the previous cabinet by President Kais Saied, who assumed full powers on July 25.
"
The President of the Republic promulgates a decree appointing the head of government and its members,
" the presidency said in a statement shortly before the official television broadcast of the swearing-in ceremony.
For the first time in the country's history, the formation of the government has been entrusted to a woman, academic Najla Bouden, but she and her team will enjoy considerably reduced prerogatives after Kais Saied's coup.
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Najla Bouden was appointed on September 29, more than two months after Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi was sacked on July 25 by the head of state who also froze Parliament and took over the judiciary.
In a speech during the swearing-in, Najla Bouden, 63, said that “
the fight against corruption will be the most important objective
” of his government, which has 25 members in addition to its leader.
The announcement of the new government comes the day after a new demonstration in Tunis against the exceptional measures decided by Kais Saied, in which at least 6,000 people participated in the capital Tunis.
Read also Tunisia: at least 6,000 demonstrators in Tunis "against the coup" of President Saied
After two months of uncertainties, Kais Saied promulgated a decree on September 22 formalizing the suspension of several chapters of the Constitution and establishing “
exceptional measures
”, supposed to be provisional, the time to carry out political reforms, including amendments to the
Constitution.
Constitution of 2014. In the midst of a socio-economic and health crisis and after months of political blockage, Kais Saied had invoked an "
imminent danger
" to justify his actions, denounced as a "
coup
" by his opponents and NGOs.
