Ghannouchi II Cabinet explained

Cabinet Name:Ghannouchi II Cabinet
Jurisdiction:Tunisia
Flag:Flag of Tunisia.svg
Flag Border:true
Date Formed:17 January 2011
Date Dissolved:27 February 2011 (1 month and 10 days)
Government Head:Mohamed Ghannouchi
State Head:Fouad Mebazaa (acting)
Total Number:38 (incl. Prime Minister)
Political Parties:RCD, Independents, UGTT (Labour Union), Ettakatol, Ettajdid, PDP, Pirate Party
Legislature Status:National unity government
Election:
Previous:Ghannouchi I Cabinet (1999–2011)

During the Tunisian Revolution President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled Tunisia on 14 January 2011 Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi then briefly took over as Acting President. On the morning of 15 January 2011 Ghannouchi had handed over the presidency to Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Fouad Mebazaa, This was done after the head of Tunisia's Constitutional Council, Fethi Abdennadher declared that Ghannouchi did not have right to power and confirmed Fouad Mebazaa as Acting President under Article 57 of the 1959 Constitution. Ghannouchi returning to his previous position as prime minister was confirmed as prime minister by Mebazaa and formed a new national unity government on 17 January 2011 that included members of opposition parties, civil society representatives, and even a blogger who only a week previous had been imprisoned by the regime of the deposed President. On 27 February 2011 the government was dissolved and replaced by a new government led by Beji Caid Essebsi.

Cabinet members

As of 17 January members included:[1]

Office Name Party
Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi RCD
Minister of Justice Independent
RCD
RCD
RCD
Laroussi MizouriIndependent
Minister of Regional and Local Development PDP
Ettajdid
Minister of Health Ettakatol
Minister of Commerce and Tourism RCD
Independent
Minister of Social Affairs RCD
Minister of Agriculture and the Environment RCD
Minister of Planning and International CooperationIndependent
Minister of Industry and TechnologyIndependent
Minister of FinanceRCD
Minister of CultureIndependent
Minister of Women's AffairsIndependent
Minister of Transport and Equipment RCD
Minister of Training and EmploymentUGTT
Minister of Youth and SportsIndependent
Minister to the Prime Minister UGTT
Minister in charge of Administrative Development RCD
Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsIndependent
Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsIndependent
Secretary of State for Regional and Local Development Independent
Secretary of State for Higher EducationIndependent
Secretary of State for Scientific Research RCD
Secretary of State for Health Independent
Secretary of State for Planning and International Cooperation RCD
Secretary of State for EnergyRCD
Secretary of State for Communication Technologies Independent
Secretary of State for Taxation RCD
Secretary of State in charge of State Domains Independent
Secretary of State for Tourism Independent
Secretary of State for Transport and Equipment UGTT
Secretary of State for Agriculture and Environment Independent
Secretary of State for Youth and Sports Pirate Party

Resignations

Ministers from the opposition

On 18 January 2011 the three ministers of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT), Houssine Dimassi, Abdeljelil Bédoui and Anouar Ben Gueddour resign. The same day, Mustapha Ben Jaafar, from Ettakatol, also resigned. they all stated that they had "no confidence" in a government featuring members of the RCD.

RCD members

Following the various protests that followed after the formation of this government, Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi and interim President Fouad Mebazaa announce that they are no longer members of the Democratic Constitutional Rally. On 20 January the other ministers still members of the RCD announced that they had done the same: they were Kamel Morjane, Ridha Grira, Ahmed Friaâ, Moncer Rouissi and Zouheir M'dhaffer. The same day M'Dhaffer a close confidant of Ben Ali in charge of Administrative Development also resigned from his ministerial functions. Kamel Morjane resigned from the government on 27 January a few hours before the government reshuffle.

Reshuffle of 27 January

Following protests against the presence of RCD members in important positions and the resignation of several ministers, the government was reshuffled on 27 January 2011. The UGTT decided not to participate but supported the new government.

Cabinet members

Office Name Party
Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi Independent
Independent
Independent
Independent
Minister of Justice Independent
Laroussi MizouriIndependent
Minister of Regional and Local Development PDP
Independent
Ettajdid
Minister of Health Independent
Minister of Commerce and Tourism Independent
Minister of Social Affairs Independent
Minister of Agriculture and EnvironmentIndependent
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Independent
Minister of Industry and Technology Independent
Minister of Justice Independent
Minister of CultureIndependent
Minister of Women's AffairsIndependent
Minister of Transport and Equipment Independent
Minister of Training and EmploymentIndependent
Minister of Youth and SportsIndependent
Minister in charge of Economic and Social Reforms and Coordination with the Ministries concerned Independent
Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsIndependent
Secretary of State for Regional and Local Development Independent
Secretary of State for Higher EducationIndependent
Secretary of State for Health RCD
Secretary of State for Health Independent
Secretary of State for Planning and International Cooperation RCD
Secretary of State for Communication Technologies Independent
Secretary of State in charge of State Domains Independent
Secretary of State for Tourism Independent
Secretary of State for Agriculture and Environment Independent
Secretary of State for Youth and Sports Pirate Party

Other changes

On 10 February 2011 Ridha Belhaj is sworn in as Secretary of State to the Prime Minister. Foreign Minister Ahmed Ounaies resigns on 13 February 2011 following his remarks on the revolution, he had hailed Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Michèle Alliot-Marie as " friend of Tunisia", while the minister was summoned at the same time to explain herself in France for having offered the regime of Ben Ali the "know-how" of the French police to quell the protests when the repression was in full swing. he is replaced by Mouldi Kefi on 21 February 2011.

Resignation of the Prime Minister

Protests flared on 19 February, with 40,000 protesters demanding a new interim government completely free of association with the old regime, and a parliamentary system of government replacing the current presidential one. As a date was announced for an election in mid-July 2011, more than 100,000 protesters demanded the removal of Ghannouchi. On 27 February, following two days of demonstrations marked by violence in the capital in which five protesters were killed and twelve injured. Ghannouchi announced his resignation on state television, He stated that he had carried his responsibilities since Ben Ali fled, and "I am not ready to be the person who takes decisions that would end up causing casualties. This resignation will serve Tunisia, and the revolution and the future of Tunisia he added.

Following him the ministers Ahmed Néjib Chebbi, Ahmed Brahim, Elyès Jouini, Afif Chelbi and Mohamed Nouri Jouini notably announced their resignation.

Ghannouchi was replaced as Prime Minister the same day by Beji Caid Essebsi.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.pm.gov.tn/pm/actualites/actualite.php?id=2062&lang=fr