Tunisian President Kais Saied made a surprising move on Tuesday, dismissing Prime Minister Najla Bouden without providing any official explanation, as Tunisia grapples with severe economic challenges.
In her place, he appointed Ahmed Hachani, a former employee of Tunisia’s Finance Ministry and central bank. The swearing-in ceremony took place on Tuesday evening.
The dismissal of Bouden, who was often labeled as the “shadow of the president” by critics, has raised questions, but the country’s focus remains on the mounting discontent over issues like food shortages, price hikes, and bread queues, which have worsened the nation’s worst economic crisis in decades and caused high unemployment.
Tunisia, a significant pathway for migrants attempting to reach Europe, recently signed a deal with the European Union to address irregular migration in exchange for aid. The situation has put Hachani into a challenging position as he assumes office “under special circumstances” and faces “great challenges,” according to President Saied.
Adding to the complexity, a $1.9-billion bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is still pending, but Saied is reluctant to accept the reforms demanded by the IMF, fearing their potential to destabilize Tunisia and the entire region, with potentially dire consequences.
This leadership shake-up comes after President Saied controversially unseated the previous premier and suspended parliament in 2021, expanding his legislative and executive powers, which the opposition saw as a “coup.” It remains to be seen how Hachani’s appointment will address the country’s pressing issues and whether it can lead to a path of stability and economic recovery.
