In a region where the once-celebrated Arab Spring turned both tragic and farcical, Tunisia has been an exemplar of rare success and stability. The North African country has been able to steer clear of the turmoil which other Arab Spring countries are afflicted with and carved its own path towards democracy and peace. On Saturday, Tunis further consolidated its position and made history when Youssef Chahed, 40, was sworn in as the country’s youngest prime minister since independence. He took power along with 26 ministers all of whom vowed to ‘work devotedly for the good of Tunisia and to ‘respect its constitution and laws’.
The downside is that Chahed is the seventh premier in less than six years since the 2011 uprising ousted longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, but these frequent changes need to be viewed positively as turning points in the country’s march towards democracy. That lawmakers were able to pick a 40-year-old leader for prime minister shows the huge progress the country has made since the revolution. He was elected with an overwhelming majority, with 168 out of 195 lawmakers who attended the session voting in favour, 22 against and five abstaining.
Chahed is a member of the president’s Nidaa Tounes party and is known as a liberal who was local affairs minister in the previous government. The cabinet he is heading is hugely representative as it includes women, a few young ministers, three members of the Islamist Ennahda party and several independents.
Chahed has the onerous task of living up to the expectations of his people. The country is beset with several problems like poverty, unemployment, economic stagnation and corruption which need to be tackled urgently. Economic disparity and deprivation was a key reason for the revolution that toppled Ben Ali, but those issues still remain unaddressed, causing disenchantment among people.
Reducing deficits and reviving tourism will be the major challenges before the new government. Tourism, a major contributor to growth, suffered a severe setback after terrorist attacks on a beach resort and museum killed some 60 people last year.
Chahed must work with determination to revive the ailing economy even if it involves taking tough and unpopular decisions. He would require the support of all lawmakers and parties in this difficult mission. “We must mobilise ourselves to save Tunisia so that democracy succeeds, and to give new hope to the youth and all Tunisians,” he said to a standing ovation from lawmakers.
The new government must be given enough time to fulfill its mission because change cannot be brought in a day.
In a region where the once-celebrated Arab Spring turned both tragic and farcical, Tunisia has been an exemplar of rare success and stability. The North African country has been able to steer clear of the turmoil which other Arab Spring countries are afflicted with and carved its own path towards democracy and peace. On Saturday, Tunis further consolidated its position and made history when Youssef Chahed, 40, was sworn in as the country’s youngest prime minister since independence. He took power along with 26 ministers all of whom vowed to ‘work devotedly for the good of Tunisia and to ‘respect its constitution and laws’.
The downside is that Chahed is the seventh premier in less than six years since the 2011 uprising ousted longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, but these frequent changes need to be viewed positively as turning points in the country’s march towards democracy. That lawmakers were able to pick a 40-year-old leader for prime minister shows the huge progress the country has made since the revolution. He was elected with an overwhelming majority, with 168 out of 195 lawmakers who attended the session voting in favour, 22 against and five abstaining.
Chahed is a member of the president’s Nidaa Tounes party and is known as a liberal who was local affairs minister in the previous government. The cabinet he is heading is hugely representative as it includes women, a few young ministers, three members of the Islamist Ennahda party and several independents.
Chahed has the onerous task of living up to the expectations of his people. The country is beset with several problems like poverty, unemployment, economic stagnation and corruption which need to be tackled urgently. Economic disparity and deprivation was a key reason for the revolution that toppled Ben Ali, but those issues still remain unaddressed, causing disenchantment among people.
Reducing deficits and reviving tourism will be the major challenges before the new government. Tourism, a major contributor to growth, suffered a severe setback after terrorist attacks on a beach resort and museum killed some 60 people last year.
Chahed must work with determination to revive the ailing economy even if it involves taking tough and unpopular decisions. He would require the support of all lawmakers and parties in this difficult mission. “We must mobilise ourselves to save Tunisia so that democracy succeeds, and to give new hope to the youth and all Tunisians,” he said to a standing ovation from lawmakers.
The new government must be given enough time to fulfill its mission because change cannot be brought in a day.
