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Tunisia’s Political Parties Choose a New Prime Minister Parties Agree On Leader Ahead of Vote In Tunisia
(about 5 hours later)
CASABLANCA, Morocco — Tunisia’s political parties agreed on the selection of a new prime minister late Saturday, breaking months of political deadlock between the Islamist-led government and secular opposition parties.CASABLANCA, Morocco — Tunisia’s political parties agreed on the selection of a new prime minister late Saturday, breaking months of political deadlock between the Islamist-led government and secular opposition parties.
The current minister of industry, Mehdi Jomaa, will take over as prime minister and lead a caretaker government until elections next year. No date for the elections has been set.The current minister of industry, Mehdi Jomaa, will take over as prime minister and lead a caretaker government until elections next year. No date for the elections has been set.
Mr. Jomaa, 50, is an independent technocrat who joined the current government in March after a career in the private sector. A mechanical engineer, he was a general manager at Aerospace, a subsidiary of the French company Total, according to Tunisian news reports. Mr. Jomaa, 50, is an independent technocrat who joined the current government in March after a career in the private sector. A mechanical engineer, he was a general manager at Hutchinson Aerospace, a subsidiary of the French company Total, according to Tunisian news reports.
The agreement on the appointment of a prime minister was hailed as a success of multiparty negotiations and proof that Tunisia’s democratic transition was on track.The agreement on the appointment of a prime minister was hailed as a success of multiparty negotiations and proof that Tunisia’s democratic transition was on track.
Tunisia, where protesters initiated the Arab Spring uprisings nearly three years ago, has avoided the violent confrontations of countries like Egypt and Libya, and it remains the one bright spot in the region as its political parties have sought to resolve their differences through talks. Neither the secular parties nor the Islamist party Ennahda, which leads a coalition government, has been strong enough to override the other, and in the end both have made concessions. Tunisia, where protesters initiated the Arab Spring uprisings nearly three years ago, has avoided the violent confrontations of countries like Egypt and Libya, and it remains the one bright spot in the region as its political parties have sought to resolve their differences through talks. Neither the secular parties nor the Islamist party Ennahda, which leads a coalition government, has been strong enough to override the other, and both have made concessions.
The Islamists swept to power in elections in 2012, a year after President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali was ousted, but within a year they drew criticism for inefficiency and a failure to curb terrorism.The Islamists swept to power in elections in 2012, a year after President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali was ousted, but within a year they drew criticism for inefficiency and a failure to curb terrorism.
The country has been struggling with demonstrations and a political logjam since the assassination of a prominent politician, Chokri Belaid, in February and a leader of the Popular Front, Mohamed Brahmi, on July 25. After Mr. Brahmi’s death, opposition parties demanded the resignation of the two-year-old Ennahda government, which they held responsible. Opposition members withdrew from the National Constituent Assembly, forcing its suspension and stalling work on a new constitution and the electoral law. The country has been struggling with demonstrations and a political logjam since the assassination of a prominent politician, Chokri Belaid, in February and a leader of the Popular Front, Mohamed Brahmi, on July 25. After Mr. Brahmi’s death, opposition parties demanded the resignation of the two-year-old Ennahda government, which they held responsible. Opposition members withdrew from the National Constituent Assembly, forcing its suspension and stalling work on a new Constitution and the electoral law.
Weeks of difficult negotiations between Ennahda and its opponents followed. Ennahda, which holds a majority in the Constituent Assembly, refused to give up power until it had completed its mandate to pass a new constitution and electoral law. Weeks of difficult negotiations between Ennahda and its opponents followed. Ennahda, which holds a majority in the Constituent Assembly, refused to give up power until it had completed its mandate to pass a new Constitution and electoral law.
In September, after months of political wrangling and multiparty talks mediated by the powerful Tunisian General Labor Union, among others, Ennahda agreed to step down in favor of a caretaker government that would oversee new elections.In September, after months of political wrangling and multiparty talks mediated by the powerful Tunisian General Labor Union, among others, Ennahda agreed to step down in favor of a caretaker government that would oversee new elections.
With the naming of a prime minister, the Constituent Assembly should return to work and complete the constitution and electoral law within weeks. Only then will the current government hand over power to Mr. Jomaa. The caretaker government is expected to take at least six to eight months to organize elections. With the naming of a prime minister, the Constituent Assembly should return to work and complete the Constitution and electoral law within weeks. Only then will the current government hand over power to Mr. Jomaa. The caretaker government is expected to take at least six months to organize elections.