Tunisian President Sacks Dozens of Ministers Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis and Election Tensions

With just over a month to go before the presidential election, Tunisian President Kaies Saied has sacked dozens of ministers in a major cabinet reshuffle. The move, which the president termed as "indispensable", saw 19 ministers and 3 state secretaries sworn in to replace acting ministers and fill vacant positions.

According to State news agency TAP, the president blamed the country’s situation on an "open conflict between the Tunisian people who is determined to achieve justice and fight corruption, and groups who have thrown themselves into the arms of foreign lobbies". However, he did not elaborate or explicitly name any group.

The cabinet reshuffle comes just days after the appointment of a new prime minister, Kamel Maddouri, who is Tunisia’s third PM since 2021. The ministers overseeing finance, justice, and housing have so far survived all cabinet reshuffles.

The latest move comes amid a cost-of-living crisis and recurring water and electricity outages in many parts of the country. President Saied is seeking a second presidential term, but several of his political opponents and critics are currently in jail or being prosecuted.

The reshuffle has raised concerns about the president’s intentions and the state of Tunisia’s political landscape ahead of the election. The country’s citizens are struggling with economic woes and political instability, and the president’s actions are being closely watched by international observers.

Additional sources: TAP