TUNIS: Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani and appointed Kamel Maddouri as new PM of the country, the Tunisian presidency said in a statement.
Ahmed Hachani was named as the country’s prime minister in August last year. A few hours before he was sacked, Hachani said in a video message that the government had made progress on a number of matters despite international challenges, including securing the nation’s food and energy needs.
Hachani’s removal comes exactly a year following President Saied appointed him to replace Najla Bouden as PM.
The development comes amid popular discontent with the recurring electricity and water outage crisis in many areas of the country. While the government adds that Tunisia is suffering due to continuous drought that has led to a quota system in water distribution, President Saied sees the water cuts as a conspiracy ahead of presidential polls and says that the dams are full.
The Ministry of Agricultural says that the dam level is extremely critical and has reached 25 percent. Saied had announced his candidacy for the presidential polls in October amid criticism from the opposition, human rights organizations and candidates for restricting and intimidating contestants to pave the way for him to win a second term.
