Key Takeaways
- President Kais Saied dismissed PM Najla Bouden and appointed Ahmed Hashani.
- The International Monetary Fund has paused a $1.9 billion loan, demanding austerity measures.
- Tunisia faces a deepening economic crisis compounded by political instability and pandemic fallout.
Tunis: Tunisian President Kais Saied has dismissed Prime Minister Najla Bouden, replacing her with Ahmed Hashani, the Tunisian leader’s office said in a statement.
“Republic President Kais Saied has decided to terminate the powers of Najla Bouden Romdhane as Prime Minister and to appoint Ahmed Hashani as her successor,” the statement said.
Najla Bouden was appointed to the post in September 2021 following a political crisis caused by mass protests and the dissolution of parliament in the summer of that year. She was the first woman in the history of Tunisia to head the government.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in December 2022 suspended consideration of a $1.9 billion loan to Tunisia, which is experiencing economic difficulties. One of the conditions for the allocation of money is cutting subsidies for food and energy, as well as reforming state-owned companies. Saied said dictate from the IMF, with which the country is negotiating a loan, is unacceptable. He said the implementation of the demands will lead to greater poverty.
Tunisia is experiencing an economic crisis along with a political one: back in April 2020, the IMF said the Tunisian economy was facing the worst recession since the country gained independence in 1956. The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting cessation of the flow of tourists to the country caused tangible damage.
