Tunisia: Najla Bouden, first woman to form a government

Tunisian President Kais Saied for the first time tasked a woman, Najla Bouden, with forming a government in Tunisia, two months after the dismissal of the previous cabinet, the presidency announced on Wednesday.

Ms. Bouden was “charged with forming a government as soon as possible,” the presidency said in a statement.

Born in 1958 and a scientist by training, Ms. Bouden, who is practically the same age as President Kais Saied and hails from the city of Kairouan, is unknown to the general public.

It is the first time that a woman takes the head of the government in Tunisia, even if the powers granted to this role have been considerably diminished by the “exceptional measures“adopted by Mr. Saied on September 22, which suspend the application of key chapters of the Constitution.

The presidency released a video of Mr Saied receiving Ms Bouden in his office and instructing her to form a new government to present it to him “in the next few hours or days”.

Mr. Saied has repeatedly insisted on the character “historical“the appointment of a woman for the first time to lead the government in Tunisia.”It is an honor for Tunisia and a tribute to Tunisian women.“

The main mission of the future government will be “to put an end to the corruption and chaos that has pervaded many state institutions“.

The presidential decree of September 22 formalized the coup de force of July 25 by President Kais Saied by which he assumed full powers, after having dismissed the Prime Minister, freezing the parliament and having also taken over the judicial power. .

Now, based on “exceptional measures“take the time to conduct a series of”political reforms“, the Head of State, holder of executive power, himself chairs the Council of Ministers.

The measures of September 22 also provide for the continuation of the freezing of Parliament and for the President to legislate by decree. Prior to her surprise appointment, Ms. Bouden was managing director of a higher education reform project. Previously, this doctor in geology had been in charge of mission, then director general at the Ministry of Higher Education.