Tunisia PM-designate Starts Talks On Forming Government

TUNIS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th August, 2016) - Tunisia's prime minister-designate Youssef Chahed began talks on Thursday aimed at creating a unity government to tackle major economic and security challenges. The 40-year-old former local affairs minister was nominated on Wednesday and given 30 days to form a cabinet. On Thursday he met officials from three minor parties, said a source close to him. Chahed was then set to meet officials from the Islamist Ennahda party that dominates parliament and from the Nobel Peace Prize-winning UGTT union, said the source, who did not wish to be named.

"Consultations will continue in the coming days," he said. On Friday Chahed is set to meet representatives of his own party, Nidaa Tounes, which was founded by President Beji Caid Essebsi. If his cabinet wins the backing of parliament, Chahed will become the North African country's youngest premier since it won independence from France in 1956. He will also be Tunisia's seventh prime minister in less than six years since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.