Tunisian president appoints first female prime minister

dpa Tunis Tunisian President Kais Saied appointed a new prime minister on Wednesday, two months after controversially unseating the previous premier and ...

dpa Tunis Tunisian President Kais Saied appointed a new prime minister on Wednesday, two months after controversially unseating the previous premier and suspending parliament.He tasked Najla Bouden - Tunisia’s first female prime minister - to form a cabinet “as soon as possible,” the presidency said.Bouden is a 59-year-old geology university teacher at the National School of Engineering in Tunis. She has also been in charge of implementing World Bank programmes at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.In July, Saied sacked premier Hichem Mechichi and suspended parliament, before further expanding his legislative and executive powers and suspending some parts of the constitution this month.His measures have divided the country, as his supporters praise his moves while his opponents describe them as a “coup.” Prior to his July move, the ex-law professor had been locked in a months-long political dispute about the powers of the government and parliament. Saied took office in 2019.