Tunis, October 11 (BNA) Tunisia appointed a new government on Monday, 11 weeks after President Kais Saied ousted the prime minister and suspended parliament.
Prime Minister Najla Boden, appointed by Saied last month, said the government’s main priority would be to tackle corruption, but although Tunisia faces a looming financial crisis, it has not mentioned any program of economic reforms.
“I am confident that we will move from frustration to hope…I warn everyone who threatens the state,” Saeed said at the ceremony.
Boden retained the interim finance and foreign ministers whom Said had already appointed, while Tawfiq appointed Sharafeddin as interior minister.
Domestic political players and foreign donors have long demanded the appointment of the government, along with a clear announcement by Saeed of a timetable for an exit from the crisis.
Tunisia is facing a rapidly looming public finance crisis, and the IMF has previously indicated that it will only negotiate on the basis of government proposals for credible reforms.
Boden’s appointment led to the largest single-day gain for Tunisian bonds after Said’s intervention, which led to a major sell-off and increased the cost of insuring its debt.
Last month, Saeed moved to bolster his position, ignoring most of the constitution to say he could rule by decree and make the government accountable to himself.