TUNIS 

A former director of Tunisia’s presidential cabinet was elected leader of Nidaa Tounes, the secularist political party announced on Tuesday. 

According to a party statement, Selma Elloumi Rekik was elected unanimously at a Tuesday meeting of Nidaa Tounes leaders.

In the statement, Nidaa Tounes welcomed “this important step taken towards building the party”.

On May 15, Rekik abruptly resigned as director of Tunisia’s presidential cabinet -- a position she held since last November.

Established in 2012, Nidaa Tounes won a majority of seats in Tunisia’s 2014 parliamentary election.

In the same year, party founder Beji Caid Essebsi won Tunisia’s presidential election.