Tunisia’s prime minister has dismissed his foreign and defence ministers, two weeks after Kais Saied was elected the new president of the North African country.
According to a statement from the government presidency Tuesday, Defence Minister Abdelkarim Zbidi and Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui were dismissed by Prime Minister Youssef Chahed. Mr Chahed will keep his job until a new government is agreed.
Justice Minister Karim Jamoussi will become acting defense minister, replacing Abdelkarim Zbidi, who competed against Saied in September’s first-round presidential vote, the government said on its website.
Sabri al-Bachtobji was appointed acting foreign minister.
The two ministers were seen as being close to former President Beji Caid Essebsi, who died in July. Saied and Essebsi didn’t see eye to eye politically.
Economic Diplomacy Minister Hatem Ferjani was also relieved of his post.
Mr Saied, a former law professor who won more than 70 per cent of ballots in October’s run-off vote, became president at a critical time for the country that’s a democratic beacon in the Arab world but has struggled to revive the economy since its 2011 uprising.
He was sworn in before members of the constituent assembly and other top state bodies last week.
Tunisians, he said, "needed a new relationship based on trust with their politicians and those in power".
While Tunisia’s parliament has the majority of powers, the presidency has a strong say in defense and foreign policy and must approve ministerial changes.
Intense negotiations are currently taking place for the formation of a new government.
