President Kais Saied of Tunisia designated Saturday caretaker Interior Minister Hichem Mechichi as Prime Minister in replacement of Elyes Fakhfakh who resigned few days ago on the backdrop of conflict of interest case levelled against him. The 46-year old lawyer was chosen by the Tunisian leader who scorned various candidacies proposed by parties represented in the parliament. Tunisia has been embroiled in a political crisis opposing Saied, Fakhfakh on one side and the leading party in the legislature, Ennahdha on the other. The former finance minister last week subsequently carried out a minor cabinet reshuffle and sacked six ministers of the cabinet, all of whom belong to Ennahdha party. Mechichi is coming in as the North African country strives to mitigate the socio-impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the nation.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 27, 2020 13:52 UTC