Tunisia parliament approves new unity government

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AFP, Tunis :
Tunisia’s parliament on Friday resoundingly approved the unity government of Youssef Chahed, backing a new cabinet line-up which will have to tackle the country’s pressing socio-economic and security challenges.
There were 167 votes in favour, 22 against and five abstentions. The cabinet, headed by Chahed — who at 40 will become the country’s youngest prime minister since it won independence from France in 1956 is set to take office in the coming days.
The parliamentary vote of confidence for the unity government brings to an end some three months of intense negotiations. President Beji Caid Essebsi said in June that he would support a government of national unity, faced with rising criticism of the government of Habib Essid.
Chahed was appointed prime minister-designate by Essebsi early this month after lawmakers passed a vote of no confidence in then-premier Habib Essid’s government following just 18 months in office.
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