Tunisian PM announces new cabinet members

The new Tunisian head of national united government Youssef Chahed announced on Saturday the new cabinet member list of 24 ministers, two delegated ministers and 14 secretaries of state.

The new government includes six women ministers and two women secretaries of state, as well as five members less than 35-years-old.

"We have kept our promise... The government is young and founded on the national talents, also with the remarkable presence of women," said Chahed during a press conference after submitting the list to the Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi.

The cabinet list is a result of an opened dialogue with the various political parties, the principal social partners and civil societies, added Chahed.

The new government will focus on fighting against terrorism and corruption, increasing investment and development and protecting environment, Chahed said.

Some major posts, including interior minister, foreign affairs minister and defence minister, remain in their office.

The six women ministers will be in charge of finance, industry, healthy, tourism, women affairs and youth and sports, respectively.

The new line-up should be submitted soon to the Assembly of People's Representatives (parliament of Tunisia) during a plenary session in which the lawmakers should vote the confidence to the new government led by Chahed.

Chahed was designated on Aug. 3 by President Essebsi after the former Prime Minister Habib Essid failed to win the confidence vote in the parliament on July 30 and turned caretaker.

If Chahed and his cabinet can win at least 109 votes, he will become the youngest prime minister, at the age of 40, in Tunisia after the country got independence from France in 1956. Endit