Kais Saied Reshuffles Cabinet Again, Appoints Sarra Zaafrani as Prime Minister Amid Ongoing Economic Crisis
On Friday, Tunisia's authoritarian President Kais Saied made headlines by dismissing Prime Minister Kamel Maddouri and appointing Sarra Zaafrani, the current Minister of Infrastructure, as his successor. This significant move marks the third time in less than two years that Saied has replaced his Prime Minister. Remarkably, Zaafrani becomes only the second woman in Tunisian history to hold the office.
Despite this shake-up, it appears that no other ministers will share Maddouri's fate, which is indicative of Saied's tendency to place the blame for the government's poor performance squarely on individual ministers. This frequent reshuffling reflects the escalating political turbulence and the erosion of democratic principles under Saied’s administration.
Since his election as president in 2019, Saied has systematically restricted political and press freedoms, suppressed opposition parties, and centralized power in a manner that raises alarms about the state of democracy in Tunisia.
The country has been grappling with an ongoing economic crisis for several years, characterized by low GDP growth and persistent shortages of essential goods such as flour, rice, and sugar. The quality of public services has significantly declined, leading to widespread discontent among the populace. Despite pressing economic needs, the government's capacity to intervene is severely limited by a substantial public debt.
In this context, Saied's cabinet reshuffle and the appointment of Zaafrani could not only shift the political landscape but also serve as a barometer for the administration’s strategies to stabilize a faltering economy.
As Tunisia waits to see how Zaafrani will navigate these challenges, many are left questioning whether this latest change in leadership will bring about the much-needed reforms or whether it simply reiterates Saied’s ongoing resistance to opposition and accountability.
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