Cabinet posts approved as Tunisia plans economic reform

By Yamna al-Salemi

TUNIS, Tunisia

Lawmakers approved Prime Minister Yusuf al-Shahid’s new Cabinet appointments late Monday as the government looks to implement economic reforms.

Addressing parliament after the vote of confidence, Shahid said 10 new ministers would give the government fresh impetus as it seeks to put International Monetary Fund-backed reforms in place.

"The reshuffle has included the interior and defense ministries, which will strengthen our country's counter-terrorism efforts, and combating corruption will be the priority of the new ministers," he said.

“We have tried to restructure the government to focus more on priorities, give a new breath to the government and preserve the spirit of national unity and political concord."

The appointments were approved by 167 lawmakers in the 217-seat parliament.

The vote follows weeks of negotiations between Shahid’s Nidaa Tounes party and coalition partner Ennahda over posts. Around half of the new posts went to politicians from these parties and the third coalition member, Afaq Tunis.

Under the reform proposals, Shahid plans to halve the budget deficit and cut the public wage bill over the next three years in a bid to revive an economy hit by unrest in the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring revolt as well as terror attacks on tourism.