Tunisia president sacks two ministers

Tunisian President Kais Saied yesterday dismissed two ministers from the former cabinet.

According to a presidential statement, the former Minister of Economy, Finance and Investment Support, Ali Kooli, was removed from his post and Sihem Boughdiri Nemissa was appointed as his successor.

Saied also sacked Mohamed Fadhel Kraiem, the communications technology minister and the acting agriculture minister, and appointed Nizar Ben Neji as his successor.

The move comes a little over a week after Saied dismissed Prime Minister Hicham Mechichi and suspended the activities of parliament. A day later he sacked a number of former ministers, including Defence Minister, Ibrahim Al-Bartajy, and the acting Justice Minister, Hasna Ben Slimane.

Saied said that the exceptional measures were based on “Article 80 of the Tunisian Constitution,” adding that he hoped to save Tunisia after recent popular protests had erupted as a result of the ongoing political, economic and health crises which have shaken the country.

The move was described as a ‘coup’ by a number of members of parliament.

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