Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Hichem Mechichi plans to announce the new cabinet with no more than 25 ministries by the end of this week, according to political parties involved in the government formation.
A number of Tunisian parties, including the Democratic Current which joined the government coalition, called for an early announcement of the cabinet lineup.
They also asked Mechichi to provide the parties with the names of ministers to ensure their independence, integrity, and competence.
Mohammed Ammar, a leader of the Democratic Current, said the PM-designate would announce the final lineup by the end of the week after completing consultations with all sides.
Several parties reject a government of independents as proposed by Mechichi.
The president of the Free Destourian Party, Abir Moussi, also confirmed that Mechichi would announce the lineup this week.
Moussi believes the cabinet will include independent figures and will prioritize economic and financial issues.
Last month, President Kais Saied designated Mechichi to succeed Elyes Fakhfakh, who resigned over allegations of a conflict of interest.
Mechichi, 46, an independent, had a month to form a government capable of winning a confidence vote in the parliament by a simple majority, or the president will dissolve the legislature and call for another election with urgent economic decisions hanging over Tunisia.
Mechichi is seen close to Saied and served as the president’s adviser. He was also a member of the National Commission of Investigation on Corruption founded in 2011 after the country’s revolution that sparked the “Arab Spring” movement.
