On Monday evening, Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Hicham El Mechichi announced the formation of a 28-member independent government. Parliament is expected to meet today, Tuesday, to set a date for a subsequent session to vote on confidence in this government.
During a press conference held late on Monday at the Hospitality Palace in Carthage, on the outskirts of the capital, Tunis, Mechichi said, "His government is a government of independent competencies that will work on the urgent needs of Tunisians."
He added, "Today I presented to the President of the Republic (Qais Saeed) the proposed government composition that will be presented to Parliament for approval," and said, "I renew my personal pledge that my government will respect all parliamentary blocs and parties."
Last month, President Qais Saeed assigned Hisham Al-Mishishi to form the new government, knowing that he was Minister of Interior in Elias Fakhfakh's government, who resigned due to suspicions of conflict of interests.
In the most prominent portfolios, Al-Meshishi appointed Ibrahim Al-Bultaji as Minister of Defense, Tawfiq Sharaf Al-Din as Minister of Interior, Muhammad Busta as Minister of Justice, and Othman Al-Jarandi as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Ali Al-Kali, a liberal economic banker, was also appointed Minister of Economy, Finance and Investment Support, after he decided to merge the economic ministries as part of the government's restructuring.