TUNIS, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tunisia’s parliament approved a new coalition government in a confidence vote, after months of political wrangling that has slowed the north African country’s efforts to tackle looming economic problems.
There were 129 votes in favor, 77 against.
Elyes Fakhfakh, who was designated prime minister last month by President Kais Saied, has brought parties from across the political spectrum into his cabinet – and they continue to disagree on several big policy areas.
Despite winning the confidence vote, the government may prove fragile after struggling to reconcile differences over policy and cabinet positions.
Fakhfakh’s cabinet included Nizar Yaich as finance minister, Nourredine Erray as foreign minister and Imed Hazgui as defense minister.
The new government will face a major economic challenge after years of low growth, persistent unemployment, big government deficits, mounting debt, high inflation and deteriorating public services.
It must tackle high public spending and politically sensitive reforms to energy subsidies and state firms.
It will also need to secure new external financing worth $3 billion after an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan program ends in April, with no new support yet agreed.
Introducing his proposed government’s program in parliament on Wednesday, Fakhfakh said Tunisia has successfully completed its transition to a democratic state, but still needs to pursue economic changes.
The country’s last election, held in October, produced a deeply fragmented house in which no party won more than a quarter of the seats. An earlier attempt to form a government was defeated in a confidence vote in January.
Fakhfakh said his government’s priorities would include fighting widespread corruption and reforming public services and the state phosphate producer.
It would also work to maintain the value of the currency, which has recovered in recent months after years of decline, he added.
Central Bank governor Marwan Abbasi said this month that the International Monetary Fund had been in favor of the dinar losing some value to bolster exports.
