Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Hichem Mechichi vowed on Thursday that his new government will be that of “accomplishments”, pledging to address the concerns of the people.
In his first remarks since his appointment, he said: “The government will be that of achievements. It will concern itself with achieving economic and social goals.”
“We will dedicate ourselves in improving the dire conditions of the Tunisians,” he added, calling on political parties to reach the “necessary agreements” that will allow the new cabinet to overcome tensions at parliament.
On the government structure, he said he was more concerned about its agenda than its composition.
He revealed that the agenda was “ready”, saying he will focus on addressing economic losses and restoring economic activity.
Mechichi acknowledged that deep political differences exist between various parties, saying he hopes his government will be able to bridge these divides.
The parties are in agreement over how critical the economic and social situations are, he added, while saying the sharp disputes have emerged because of the current political system and tensions at parliament.
He called for providing the necessary stable economic and political environment to allow the implementation of an economic program that would rectify the situation within two years.
Separately, parliament Speaker and head of the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, Rached al-Ghannouchi, slammed calls to keep his party out of the new government.
He wondered how the party that had come first and second in parliamentary elections could be kept out of rule. “Is this democracy?” he asked.
“Democracy is allowing parties that had emerged victorious in the 2019 elections to govern,” he said.
He also slammed the recent attempt to withdraw confidence from him over allegations that he was mismanaging parliament.
He refuted the claims, saying his legislature was 30 percent more effective than its predecessor, citing relevant reports.
In an indirect reference to President Kais Saied, Ghannouchi said: “Tunisia has one president, who represents the state and its unity, but power does not lie solely in his hands.”
Moreover, he said the PM-designate was “trying to hide behind the president,” suggesting that he should seek more cover through parliament from the Ennahda and the Heart of Tunisia parties that came in first and second in the elections respectively.
