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Tunisia’s PM-designate: Gov’t Will Boost Employment, Services

The newly designated prime minister of Tunisia, Elyes Fakhfakh, said on Friday that he wants to form a government that prioritizes employment and the improvement of public services. “Economic politics will surely change toward a social policy that returns hope for the unemployed youth and for improving public services,” he said at a news conference. He also said that he would only include in his government parties “aligned to the values of the [2011 Arab Spring] revolution.” President Kais Saied tasked Fakhfakh with the job of forming a new government on Monday, giving him a month to win majority support in Tunisia’s parliament. This follows an unsuccessful attempt by Habib Jemli, whose proposed cabinet lost a confidence vote on January 10. If Fakhfakh also fails to form a government, the country will hold another parliamentary election. Tunisia has faced high unemployment, declining services, and a perception of corruption for years as the country tries to rein in its government spending and debt, and its economic challenges have undermined the public’s trust in government.