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Youssef Chahed

Tunis — Tunisia’s premier-designate called for “sacrifices” yesterday as parliament convened to vote on a cabinet line-up he has proposed to tackle pressing economic and security challenges.

It is likely that a majority of parliament’s 217 members will vote in favour of the line-up, making Youssef Chahed, at 40, the country’s youngest prime minister since it won independence from France in 1956. But as Tunisia continues to find its bearings after the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Chahed would also be the North African nation’s sixth premier in less than six years.

The prime minister-designate addressed the assembly yesterday morning ahead of the vote of confidence, which was not expected before 8pm.
Chahed stressed the “necessity” of his proposed unity government to address mounting economic challenges not resolved since the 2011 revolution.

“We have until now been unable to realise the objectives of the revolution. Our youth have lost hope, the trust of citizens in the state has decreased,” he said.

“We are all responsible” and “will all have to make sacrifices”.

The premier-designate, whose speech was met with resounding applause, said his government would give priority to fighting corruption and “terrorism”.

While Tunisia is considered a rare success story of the Arab Spring, the authorities have failed to resolve the issues of poverty, unemployment, regional disparities and corruption that preceded Ben Ali’s fall. — AFP