Mechichi Pledges to Alleviate Poverty, Protect Vulnerable Groups in Tunisia

Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Hichem Mechichi pledged to combat poverty and protect vulnerable groups as he sought Tuesday a vote of confidence for his proposed lineup.

Reforms of Mechichi

Mechichi said as he addressed MPs that he is committed to putting in place a strategy to tackle poverty in a bid to improve the socio-economic situation in the country.

The cabinet has five socio-economic priorities, namely alleviating poverty and protecting vulnerable grous affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the PM-designate further said.

Mechichi said, in this vein, he will enforce decisions made by previous governments to fight precarious employment and endeavour to improve the purchasing power which deteriorated since 2011. Similarly, speculation needs to be addressed to keep prices under control.

The new Tunisian PM, 46, is a former interior minister and lawyer who studied in Tunisia and France. He proposed a government with 25 ministers and three secretaries of state that includes seven women and a blind man. The government lineup upset some lawmakers because it includes few representing political parties.