Tunisia’s Interim Prime Minister announces new government free of members of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s regime
Tunisia's interim Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi announced on Monday a new government free of any members of the regime of president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, toppled in January in an uprising.
The new interim government, called the "public authority", has 22 members, including the prime minister, of whom 17 have been reappointed from the previous transition government formed on January 17 and five are newcomers:
- Prime Minister: Beji Caid Essebsi
- Justice: Lazhar Karoui Chebbi (reappointed)
- National Defence: Abdelkrim Zbidi (reappointed)
- Interior: Farhat Rajhi (reappointed)
- Foreign Affairs: Mouldfi Keffi (newcomer)
- Social Affairs: Mohamed Ennacneur (reappointed)
- Finance: Jalloul Ayed (reappointed)
- Religious Affairs: Laroussi Mizouri (reappointed)
- Education: Taieb Baccouche (reappointed)
- Culture: Ezzeddine Bach Chaouch (reappointed)
- Higher Education: Rifaat Chaabouni (newcomer)
- Health: Habiba Zahi Ben Romdhane (reappointed)
- Commerce and Tourism: Mehdi Houas (reappointed)
- Agriculture: Mokhtar Jalleli (reappointed)
- Women's Affairs: Lilia Laabidi (reappointed)
- Transport and Equipment: Yassine Brahim (reappointed)
- Labour and Professional Training: Said Aydi (newcomer)
- Youth and Sports: Mohamed Aloulou (reappointed)
- Planning and International Cooperation: Abdelhamid Triki (newcomer)
- Industry and Technology: Abdellaziz Rassaa (reappointed)
- State Property: Ahmed Adhoum (reappointed)
- Regional Development: Abderrazak Zouari (newcomer)
The removal from government of figures from the Ben Ali regime was a key demand of protests that continued after the fall of the authoritarian leader on January 14.
Following the protests, the previous interim prime minister, Mohammed Ghannouchi, and two other ministers who had also served in Ben Ali's government resigned last week. Two ministers from the opposition quit days later.
