Tunisian president leads discussions for new Prime Minister

The search for a new prime minister for Tunisia began Monday evening as president Beji Caid Essebsi engaged political parties in the process.

The move has become necessary following parliament’s no confidence vote in Prime Minister Habib Essid who was voted out at the weekend.

He was voted out for failing to tackle the country’s economic and social crises in his year-and-a-half in office.

A total of 118 Members of Parliament voted to oust the premier.

The Nidaa Tounes party, founded by president Essebsi as well as the Islamist Ennahda party are among the various parties expected to be part of the negotiation process.

A new prime minister should be named by Wednesday, sources at the presidency have
told the AFP new agency.

Although some local media have reported that Local Affairs Minister, Youssef Chahed of the Nidaa Tounes has been nominated by the president to succeed Essid, the AFP quoted a source at the presidency saying “nothing has been decided”.

Habib Essid had been under increased pressure to resign after the president in June criticised his performance on national television and proposed the formation of a new union government.

The north African nation earlier this year, witnessed a spate of protests by young people over the high unemployment rate which has left many of them without jobs.