Tunisian parliament to hold no-confidence vote against the government

The Tunisian parliament will decide on July 30 whether to maintain or dissolve the government of Habib Essid, whose regime is getting increasingly unpopular.

“Following a board meeting of the Assembly of People’s Representatives (ARP), it was decided to set July 30 for the vote of confidence,” said an official of the service.

The prime minister Habib Essid formally requested for the vote on Wednesday as a result of deadlock over his resignation which have been heightening since June 2.

President Beji Caid Essebsi had proposed the formation of a cabinet of national unity in response to criticism against the government which has been accused of inefficiency.

In a television interview on Wednesday night, the head of government for the first time in public confirmed there were pressures mounting for his resignation without mentioning the source of the pressures. He criticized the president’s timing of the announcement of his initiative.

“I will not resign. I’m not a soldier who flees the battlefield, that is called a deserter,” Essid said on the private TV channel Attessia. He was appointed head of government only six months ago.

He explained that his decision to put his fate in parliament is for “the issue to be resolved as soon as possible and in compliance with the Constitution”.

Party officials have already said they would not renew their confidence in the government. Essid himself said on Wednesday that he was at the disposal of his successor for possible advice.

Per the Constitution, if their mandate is not renewed, the government will resign and the President will select the most capable person to form a new cabinet.