Tunisia to hold confidence vote after cabinet reshuffle

Last week’s cabinet shake-up saw 10 portfolios – including interior, defense and finance – change hands

By Adel al-Thabiti and Yamna al-Salemi

TUNIS (AA) - Tunisia’s parliament convened Monday to hold a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Yusuf al-Shahid’s government following a major cabinet reshuffle last week.

The parliamentary session began Monday morning with a speech by al-Shahid in which he addressed 150 out of 217 members of the assembly.

On Wednesday, al-Shahid announced a wide-ranging cabinet reshuffle that saw 10 ministerial portfolios -- including those of interior, defense and finance -- change hands and established two new ministries.

About half of the affected portfolios went to members of the three main partners in Tunisia’s ruling coalition, namely Ennahda (69 seats in parliament), Nidaa Tounes (58 seats) and Afaq Tunis (10 seats).

The remaining portfolios went to independent figures and individuals associated with national organizations.

As of 8:00 p.m. local time Monday (1900GMT), assembled MPs had yet to cast ballots in the scheduled confidence vote.

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