Tunisia names new coalition government in bid to avoid early election

Tunisia’s prime minister-designate Elyes Fakhfakh has announced the formation of a new coalition government after coming to an agreement with Ennahda, the biggest party in parliament.
The deal is seen as an effort to end the country’s political crisis. President Kais Saied said on Monday he would dissolve the parliament and call for an early election if the new government failed to win a confidence vote.
Fakhfakh hopes to avoid an early election with the proposed government being approved by the parliament. He had promised to name a government that would draw only from parties aligned with the goals of the country’s 2011 revolution and committed to ending corruption. The cabinet proposal includes Ennahda, Tahya Tounes, Achaab , Attayar, El Badil parties and independents.
Since the 2011 revolution, the country has been struggling with high unemployment and low growth. The government’s debt has increased, with foreign lenders demanding that the budget deficits are brought under control. Tunisia needs to borrow about $3 billion internationally in 2020 to meet its spending commitments.
The authorities said the International Monetary Fund was waiting for the new government to form in order to start talks over a sixth review of its loan programme it began in 2016.