Tunisia PM unveils new cabinet line-up

Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Habib Essid announced on Friday his government line-up following his meeting with President Beji Caid Essebsi.
The cabinet is made up of 25 ministers and 14 state ministers some of who are technocrats and the other belong to political parties representing the broad political spectrum in the country, he told a news conference at Carthage Palace.
The ministers include three women, a secretary general of the government and 14 secretaries of state include six women, TAP news agency quoted him as saying.
Essid pledged to achieve the objectives of the Revolution of Freedom and Dignity, entrench the democratic process and ensure the attributes of socio-economic development to all social segments in all regions, in the higher interest of the country that should be placed above party interests.
The new government brings together administrative skills, experts, politicians and civil society representatives, he noted. It has given a distinguished position to women and youth, according to the report.
The announcement of the government line-up crowns a series of consultation meetings with representatives of political parties, national organisations and the civil society, Essid added.
He stressed keenness on taking stock of the different proposals in the government programme that will be submitted to the parliament.
The government includes Minister of National Defense Farhat Horchani, Minister of the Interior Najem Gharsalli and Minister of Foreign Affairs Taieb Baccouche.
President Essebsi tasked Essid with forming the government on January 5 ; he is expected to take over on Wednesday according to arrangements with the outgoing prime minister Mahdi Jomaa .
Source: KUNA