Mechichi to announce government of technocrats

LONDON - Tunisia's government, which is expected to be announced shortly, is made up of 23 ministers, according to media reports.

Prime Minister-designate Hichem Mechichi plans to merge “economic ministries including finance, investment, development, and state areas into a single ministry, which would be entrusted to the economist Ali Kooli,” reported Reuters, citing political sources.

This approach seeks to restructure the government and help revive the crisis-hit economy.

“Kooli has experience in the banking sector in several Arab countries, and is a liberal economist,” said Reuters’ source.

Mechichi announced on August 10 his decision to form a government of technocrats amid al-Karama coalition’s objection.

The leader of the al-Karama coalition parliamentary group Seifeddine Makhlouf told TAP agency Monday that no official position had been taken so far on the formation of Mechichi’s cabinet.

Makhlouf said that the coalition had so far rejected the government of technocrats while waiting to see its composition in order to call a meeting and take an official position on it.

The coalition said it supported a broad political coalition government that must assume its responsibilities to the Tunisians and reflect the results of the 2019 elections.

The national council of the Achaab movement announced Sunday that it decided to place its confidence in the next Mechichi-led government.

Achaab movement official Oussema Aouidet told Mosaïque Fm that his party’s political bureau was responsible for monitoring the government's economic and social programme and verifying the independence and integrity of its members.

The constitutional deadline for announcing the future government expires on Tuesday.