Tunisia’s president has on Wednesday named the country’s first female prime minister, appointing her to lead a transitional government after her predecessor was sacked and parliament suspended.
President Kais Saied named Najla Raoudha Boudent Ramadhane, a 63-year-old professor at a prestigious engineering school, to the prime minister’s post in a surprise decision.
The president’s office said in a statement that Saied instructed the new prime minister to name a new Cabinet as soon as possible.
The new government is tasked to “put an end to the corruption and chaos that have spread throughout many state institutions.”
Tunisia has had no prime minister and has been in limbo since Saied froze the parliament and seized executive powers on July 25.
The move notably sidelined the Islamist party that dominated parliament, and critics denounced it as a coup that threatens Tunisia’s young democracy. Saied said it was necessary to save the country from economic and social crisis.
Ms Romdhane is a university engineering professor and coordinator of programmes at the World Bank in the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The appointment comes two months after Mr Saied removed the former prime minister, Hichem Mechichi, from power and suspended parliament.
Last week, Mr Saied took away the salaries and protections of Tunisia’s lawmakers with a presidential order, which allowed him to rule the country via decree. He also suspended parts of the constitution, this led to protests on Sunday.
Habib Bourguiba avenue in Tunis saw about 4000 protesters on Sunday, despite police officers wearing riot gear blocking off the street early.
