Tunisia may look to build technocratic government
Tunisia’s prime ministerdesignate Hichem Mechichi said he would form a purely technocratic government without political parties after wrangling over the future of the country.
Mr Mechichi, the former interior minister, said there were too many disagreements between the main political factions in Tunisia.
The decision is likely to put Mr Mechichi in confrontation with the Islamist Ennahda party, the largest political group in parliament with 52 of the 217 seats.
The group said it would oppose the formation of a non-political government.
But the proposal for a government of independent technocrats without political parties will win support from the powerful Tunisian General Labour Union and parties such as Tahya Tounes and Dustoury El Hor.
Mr Mechichi said his government’s focus would be on social hardship and the weak economy, explaining that “while the political dispute continues, some Tunisians have not found drinking water”.
Protests against widespread unemployment, a lack of development and poor public services erupted in Tunisia this year.
Last month, President Kais Saied picked Mr Mechichi to succeed Elyes Fakhfakh as prime minister. Mr Fakhfakh resigned from the role over allegations of a conflict of interest.
Mr Mechichi said he would also focus on rescuing the country’s public finances.
Tunisia is struggling to revive its collapsed economy after the 2011 uprising that ended the rule of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali as president.
The government said last month it asked four creditor countries to delay debt repayments and announced more pessimistic economic and budget forecasts for the year because of the coronavirus.
The request on debt repayments underscores the dire condition of public finances, which were already a source of concern in Tunisia before the pandemic pummelled the global economy.
Mr Mechichi, 46, an independent, this month needs to form a government capable of winning a confidence vote in parliament by a simple majority.
If he fails, Mr Saied will dissolve parliament and call for another election.