Tunisian parliament vote to dismiss prime minister

Tunisia’s parliament passed a vote of no confidence in prime minister Habib Essid on Saturday, effectively disbanding the Essid administration and clearing the way for a new government that must push through delayed economic reforms.

The no-confidence motion was passed by 118 votes, easily crossing the country’s 109-vote threshold after a debate that stretched late into the night. Out of the 191 MPs present for the vote, only three supported Essid and others abstained.

A new premier will likely be named after negotiations within the ruling coalition of four major parties. That may include a change in cabinet with a new prime minister.

Essid, a technocrat in office less than two years, had been under fire for a lack of progress on a financial reforms package to create growth and jobs. President Beji Caid Essebsi also called for a new unity government to overcome political divisions in the ruling coalition and respond more quickly to economic and security challenges.

Although the result was expected as Essid had faced criticism from across Tunisia’s political spectrum, the vote was a mark of the instability which has bedevilled the north African country since it kicked off a wave of pro-democracy rebellions across the Arab world in 2011.

Parliament president Mohamed Ennaceur told MPs Tunisia was “living through a difficult situation that demands sacrifices from all” and added that “we must now look to the future to return hope to all Tunisians”.

Since its 2011 revolution to oust Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia has emerged as a democracy praised as a model for the region. But militant attacks have tested the government and political infighting has slowed economic progress.

Essebsi has said the country needs a more dynamic government ready to take audacious decisions to bring about the liberalization and cost-cutting required for an overhaul of the North African state’s economy.

Three Islamist militant attacks last year – including gun attacks on foreign visitors at a museum and a beach resort – have badly damaged the tourism industry, which makes up around 8% of the economy and is a major source of jobs.

Essid said he would do his best to make sure the transition to the new government was a tranquil one. Despite fierce criticism of his government during an extraordinary parliamentary session, he said the debate “consecrated Tunisia’s nascent democracy”.

“Despite the serious problems our country faces, we have no fear for Tunisia which has the resources to face up to the challenges,” he said, before being given a standing ovation by those who had ousted him.

Maltatoday