Tunisia's Parliament Approves Gov't of PM-designate Elyes Fakhfakh Thursday Feb 27,2020

Tunisia's Parliament has approved prime minister-designate Elyes Fakhfakh's new coalition government early on Thursday Feb 27,2020, ending months of political deadlock that delayed the enactment of policies seen as critical to revive the country's sluggish economy

Legislators voted 129 to 77 in favour of Fakhfakh's team. Parliament in January rejected a proposed line-up by Habib Jemli, Fakhfakh's predecessor and a nominee of the conservative Ennahdha party

Under Tunisia's 2014 constitution, the party with the most seats in Parliament is tasked with forming the country's government.Ennahdha had emerged as the most powerful parliamentary force following legislative elections in October - but with just 52 of a total 217 seats, it alone could not guarantee Jemli's inauguration

The new government will have 32 members, a departure from Jemli's 43-member strong technocratic cabinet

Ennahdha has been allocated 6 portfolios in the new configuration

This was not the first time that legislators in Tunisia voted for a coalition government

In 2015, Ennahdha and Nidaa Tounes, the party of the late President Beji Caid Essebsi, agreed to join forces during a turbulent transition period

But the Tunisian economy's dismal performance over the following years led to big losses for both parties, with Ennahdha going from 69 seats in 2014 to 52 in last year's parliamentary elections, andNidaa Tounesplunging from 85 to a mere three, respectively