Tunisia : Hichem Mechichi Is New Prime Minister

Tunisia's President Kais Saied has appointed Hichem Mechichi, as the country’s new Prime Minister. The former Interior Minister, was selected to replace Elyes Fakhfakh who resigned over alleged conflict of interest after an independent member of the Tunisian parliament last month published documents indicating that he owned shares in companies that had won deals worth 15 million dollars from the state.

Mechichi, 46, an independent, was not nominated for the position by any party. He served as the president’s legal adviser and also a member of the National Commission of Investigation on Corruption founded in 2011. Speaking to the media after his appointment, Mr Mechichi said, "I will work to establish a government which would meet the aspirations and demands of all Tunisian adding that his authority would also adequately respond to people’s “legitimate demands”. Though he is yet to secure a majority support for his government in the country's parliament and some political analysts are worried about his lack of experience in economics, at a time when the Tunisian economy is struggling, Press TV reports that, the new Prime Minister has one month to form a government capable of winning a confidence vote in parliament by a simple majority. If he fails, the Pre...