Tunisia: Ministerial reshuffle includes the ministries of foreign affairs, the interior and justice
Two weeks after his reelection, the Tunisian President Zine al-Abidin Ben Ali made yesterday a ministerial reshuffle that targeted the ministries of foreign affairs, the interior and defense. Governmental sources considered that it aims at giving "a new impetus " for Ben Ali's election programs, while the opposition played down its significance.
The prime minister Muhammad al-Ghanoushe kept his post which he has been assuming since 1999, while former minister of culture Abdul Baqi al-Hermasi assumed the post of the foreign minister which used to be with al-Habin Bin Yahya. Muhammad Aziz Bin Ashour succeeded al-Jermasi.
Ben Ali advisor, Rafiq Balhaj Qasem was appointed as a minister of the interior in succession of al-Hadi Mahni who has become the minister of defense in succession of minister Dali al-Jazi.
The two ministers of economy and finance remained in their posts. Lezher Buyoumi succeeded Sadouk Shabaan in his post as a minister of higher education.
One foreign diplomat said "replacing Shaaban and Bin Yahya who are strongly linked to the former extremist policy against the opposition, would be an indicator on embarking on a more open policy." One government official said that members of the new government, with most of them are young, were appointed with the aim of giving a "new impetus" for Ben Ali elections program. He added the structure of the government gives a greater role for women," noting that 7 women were appointed as ministers or deputy ministers, but mentioning no names.
However, the chairman of the leftist Progressive Democratic Party, Najib Shebbi, played down the importance of the reshuffle. He said that the " ministers have technical and experimental roles. The do not play political roles." This governmental reshuffle comes after two weeks from re-electing Ben Ali for a fourth five year term of office and on the fall of the 17th anniversary of assuming power in Tunisia on November 7th, 1987.