Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Tunisia: the provisional government formally constituted

Mohamed Ghannouchi, Prime Minister last of ousted President Ben Ali, announced Monday, Jan. 17, he had formed a government of national unity three days after the precipitate flight of the president, ousted in a month of street protests. Including three opposition leaders, he will prepare for presidential and legislative elections in the near future.

The Prime Minister, speaking to reporters at the government palace, gave a list of nineteen ministers. Mr Ghannouchi also indicated that the Ministry of Information, accused of censoring the freedom of the press and expression in the country, had been deleted. The Prime Minister has finally announced the upcoming release of all political prisoners and "total freedom of information" in the country.

Three leaders of political parties opposed to the former regime of President Ben Ali, who fled to Saudi Arabia after twenty-three years of unchallenged rule, are part of this government. Nejib Chebbi, the PDP leader, became Minister of Regional Development, Ahmed Ibrahim, Secretary General of Ettajdid, the former Communist Party, supports higher education and scientific Mustapha Ben Jaafar, Secretary General of the Forum for Democratic Labor and Liberties, a doctor by training, is assigned health.

Representatives of civil society are also included in this government. The head of government also undertook to appoint a new director to head the Central Bank of Tunisia, in the person of Mustapha Kamel Nabli. "We are committed to increasing our efforts to restore calm and peace in the heart of all Tunisians.

Our priority is safety, as well as political and economic reforms," said the Prime Minister in the course of a press conference. As expected, the ministers appointed under Ben Ali but perceived as not involved in "business" retain some of the most sensitive portfolios. Eight members of the former government have been renewed, including the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, Kamel Morjane, and that of the interior, Ahmed Kria.

Side figures are entering including former barrister Lazhar Karoui Chebbi to justice and Ahmed Oulai (Secretariat of State for Foreign Affairs), a known opponent. A very active dissident, Slim Amamou, was appointed Secretary of State for Youth and Sports. In an interview to the channel Public Sénat, blogger expressed his "great surprise" to have joined the new government, explaining that the proposal to enter had been made "shortly before the official announcement." Filmmaker Moufida Tlatli been designated for its culture.

The head of government has also promised that all parties who wish can be legalized. "I think the Tunisian people are not going to let this kind of charade," he said. He claims that the RCD "retains all the important places, including the Department of the Interior, which is supposed to organize future elections." Marzouki announced Monday morning that he would run for the next presidential election.

He also points out that this government has opened only three opposition parties, "which were already anointed by Ben Ali's dictatorship." The Communist Party of Tunisian Workers (PCOT) prohibited under Ben Ali announced on her show no candidate in the presidential election in six months.

Interviewed on French radio Europe 1 in Tunis on a possible candidacy of his party, its leader, Hamma Hammami, replied: "No, because an election in six months does give a president who belongs to the RCD. "On the other hand, the PCOT defends a parliamentary system and not a presidential system, it is for that reason that we call for a constituent assembly," he added.

"We live under the authority of the party for over 50 years and every crisis, there are maneuvers that take this same result, the authorities try to reform, but once he catches his breath, he returned to the repression and strong hand, "he lamented. complete list of members of the Provisional Government
Posted by Manlio Gandolfi at 1:29 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)