Tunisia's President accepts nomination of Al-Areed to head new government

Tunisia’s President, Dr Moncef Al Marzouki, has agreed to Ennahda’s nomination of the current Interior Minister, Ali Al Areed, to be the country’s new prime minister. A spokesman for the presidency, Adnan Monser, said “The President wishes Al Areed every success and will present him with his official letter charging him with forming the next government.” He added, “Al-Areed will have 15 days to form his government and submit his program to the President.” The President expressed his hope for Al-Areed, a member of Ennahda, to do so “as soon as possible, as the country cannot bear to wait any longer.” The National Constituent Assembly will then need to approve Al-Areed’s government by a majority of at least 109 out of 217 votes.

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The former Prime Minister, Hamadi Al-Jebali resigned at the beginning of the week after failing to form a technocratic government due to his party, Ennahda’s, refusal of such a government. The objective of this initiative was to free the country from the worst political crisis it has witnessed since the 2011 revolution, caused by the assassination of left-wing opposition leader Chokri Belaid on February 6th.