Acting President of Tunisia promises inclusive political process

The new interim president of Tunisia, Mebaza Feud, said that Tunisia will be excluded from any political process that must be opened after the former head of state, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, to leave the country forced by popular revolts. In a brief speech during the oath of office broadcast on state television announced Mebaza Ghanuchi Mohamed confirmation as prime minister and said that this mission is to "form a government of national unity as accurate to the best interests of the country ".

"All Tunisians, without exception or exclusion, will be linked to the political process," said the new president of Tunisia, which until now was President of the Parliament and this morning was appointed to the office by the Constitutional Council. Before the Senate President Abdelal Kallel and representatives of both houses of Parliament, Mebaza swore allegiance to the constitutional principles and pledged to defend pluralism and democracy.

The Constitutional Council declared a "no power" and Mebaza appointed interim president to replace the now prime minister, Mohamed Ghanuchi, which on Friday had assumed the leadership of the State under Article 56 of the Constitution. Thus, the Council has applied Article 57 of the constitution, which states that in the case of "current vacancy in the presidency of the Republic by death, resignation or inability to complete" the Council must declare the vacancy and appoint the president Parliament as acting president.

The period set by the Constitution for the interim presidency is at least 45 days and 60 days maximum after which elections must be called. By constitutional mandate, the interim president may not submit his candidacy for President of the Republic in the elections. Article 56 on the Friday Ghanuchi assumed the interim presidency speaks only of "temporary disability for the president" so if the prime minister remained in office had left open the possibility of a return to power of Ben Ali, the would have been harshly criticized by the opposition and much of the Tunisian population.

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