Get to Know the Tunisian Government
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On Friday, December 23rd, 154 out of 217 members of the Constituent Assembly were present to give the new government a vote of confidence.38 members voted against the vote of confidence, 11 members abstained, and 105 voted to approve the new government. The government is composed of members from the parties that make up the ruling coalition: Ennahdha, CPR and Ettakatol, as well as a few independents.The composition of the new government along with short biographies of each minister, as well as the Speaker of the Constituent Assembly and the President of the Republic is as follows:
President of the Constituent Assembly
Mustapha Ben Jaafar
Description
Mustapha Ben Jaafar was elected President of Tunisia’s Constituent Assembly since November 22, 2011 by 145 out of 213 votes. He is the founder and Secretary General of the center-left party Ettakatol (FDTL), also called the Democratic Forum for Labor and Freedoms. His political party arrived in 3rd place with 20 seats at the Constituent Assembly.
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Biography
Age: 71 years
Experience: Founder and Secretary General of the center-left party Ettakatol
Political Party: Ettakatol
President
Moncef Marzouki
Description
Moncef Marzouki was the leader of the center-left party CPR (Congress For the Republic) until he became the fifth Tunisian President since December 12, 2011. In 2001, Marzouki founded the Congress for the Republic Party (CPR), which took the second highest number of seats (29) in the October 23rd Constituent Assembly elections.
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Biography
Age: 66 years
Experience: Human rights activist, M.D, Ph.D
Political Party: CPR
Prime Minister
Hamadi Jebali
Description
Hamadi Jebali, born in the coastal city Sousse, is an engineer specializing in solar energy. He is currently the spokesman and secretary-general of Ennahda, Tunisia’s most prominent Islamist party. Since the January 14th revolution, and especially during the campaign for the Constituent Assembly elections, he has appeared in Ennahda’s press conferences several times…
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Biography
Age: 62 years
Experience: Tunisian Islamist Ennahdha Party Secretary General
Political Party: Ennahdha
Minister of Defence
Abdelkarim Zbidi
Description
Zbidi holds a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Claude Bernard in Lyon,France. He also received a masters degree in human physiology, a masters in human pharmacology, a postgraduate diploma in human physiology, and a degree in the study and research of human biology from the same university.
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Biography
Age: 61 years
Experience: Secretary of State to the Prime Minister for Scientific Research and Technology (1999-2000), Minister of Public Health (2001) and Minister of Scientific Research and Technology (2002).
Political Party: Independent
Minister of Justice
Noureddine Bhiri
Description
Noureddine Bhiri is an influencial leader within the center-right Islamist party Ennahda, and a member of the party’s executive bureau. He was the head of its list in the electoral list of Ben Arous, and is now a deputy in the Constituent Assembly .
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Biography
Age: 53 years
Experience: member of several NGO’s, defending the independence of the judiciary from the Ben Ali regime
Political Party: Ennahdha
Minister of Interior
Ali Laarayedh
Description
Ali Laarayedh is one of the most famed leaders of Ennahda, and the party’s current chairman.
Ali Laarayedh was born in 1955 in Mednine. He was Ennahda’s spokesperson from 1981 until his arrest in 1990.
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Biography
Age: 61 years
Experience: Tortured and persecuted for more than three decades
Political Party: Ennahdha
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Rafik Abdessalem
Description
Rafik Abdessalem, 43, is a member of the moderate Islamic party, Ennahda, and the party leader Rached Gannouchi’s son-in-law. He was proposed by the governing coalition to occupy the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs within the interim government. He is currently working as Senior Researcher and Head of the Research and Studies Office at the Al Jazeera Center for Studies.
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Biography
Age: 43 years
Experience:
Political Party: Ennahdha
Minister of Religious Affairs
Nourredine Khadmi
Description
Noureddine Khadmi was born May 18, 1963 in Tela, Kassrine. He is a member of Ennahda and the Tunisian Constituent Assembly, and works as the Imam of Al Fath mosque, in Tunis.
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Biography
Age: 48 years
Experience: Two PhD’s in jurisprudence from the Higher Institute of Islamic Theology at Zitouna University.
Political Party:
Minister of Human Rights and Transitional Justice and Spokesperson of the Government
Samir Dilou
Description
Born in 1966 in Lafayette, Tunis, Samir Dilou is a lawyer and member of the Executive Bureau of the Ennahda Party. He currently serves as an Ennahda’s deputy in the Constituent Assembly, the body elected by Tunisians on October 23rd, 2011 to draft a new constitution for the country.
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Biography
Age: 44 years
Experience: Lawyer and member of the Executive Bureau of the Ennahda Party.
Political Party: Ennahdha
Minister of Tourism
Elyes Fakhfakh
Description
He is currently the Deputy Director General of the Tunisian company CORTREL, which specializes in the manufacture of leaf springs.
He is a member of the center left political party Ettakatol.
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Biography
Age: 39 years
Experience: Deputy Director General of the Tunisian company CORTREL
Political Party: Ettakatol
Minister of Education
Abdellatif Abid
Description
Abid was, until recently, a retired professor from the Higher Institute of Languages at the University of Carthage, specializing in Arabic Linguistics. His field covered Arabic terminology, lexicology, and translation of scientific and technical terms.
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Biography
Age: 64 years
Experience: Professor at the Higher Institute of Languages at the University of Carthage
Political Party: Ettakatol
Minister of Public Health
Abdellatif Mekki
Description
Abdellatif Mekki was born in 1962 Ksour, Kef. He was the head of Ennahda’s, Tunisia’s center-right Islamist party, list in the Kef electoral district, and he is currently a member of the Tunisian Constituent Assembly.
Biography
Age: 49 years
Experience: Physician, political activist, and a former Secretary General of the Tunisian General Student Union
Political Party: Ennahdha
Minister of Training and Employment
Abdel Waheb Maatar
Description
Abdelwaheb Matar was born March 23, 1952 in Sfax. He is a lawyer and a constitutional law professor at the University of Tunis. He was one of the original founders of the Congress For the Republic (CPR) party. He was nominated by the governing coalition to take the post of Minister of Training and Employment within the interim government.
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Biography
Age: 59 years
Experience: Lawyer and a constitutional law professor.
Political Party: CPR
Minister of Transport
Abdelkarim Harouni
Description
Abdelkarim Harouni was born on December 17, 1960 in La Marsa, and is a prominent figure in the center-right Islamist party, Ennahda. He attended Carthage Presidence High School, and received a degree in architectural engineering from E.N.I.T. University in Manar. In 1990, Harouni worked as an editor for al Fajr – a publication associated with Ennahdha.
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Biography
Age: 51 years
Experience: Editor for al Fajr – a publication associated with Ennahdha.
Political Party: Ennahdha
Minister of Communication Technologies
Mongi Marzoug
Description
He joined Orange in 1999 as the head of mobile network technology for 7 years, then he became head of network modeling.
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Biography
Age:
Experience: Director at Orange
Political Party: Independent
Minister of Industry and Commerce
Mohamed Lamine Chakhari
Description
Chakhari holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering, and is a professor at the National School of Engineers in Tunis. He is the CEO of an industrial company and the head of its mechanical engineering department.
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Biography
Age: 54 years
Experience: CEO of an industrial company and head of mechanical engineering department.
Political Party: Ennahdha
Minister of Investment and International Cooperation
Riadh Bettaieb
Description
Bettaieb graduated from the National school of engineers, he joined the Islamist Ennahda Movement in 1979. He was tracked down by the authorities of Ben Ali and forced into exile from Tunisia to Paris in 1991. During his 20 years living in Paris, he was the head of the France based, Tunisian Solidarity Association.
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Biography
Age: 50 years
Experience: Head of the France based, Tunisian Solidarity Association
Political Party: Ennahdha
Minister of Equipment and Housing
Mohamed Selmane
Description
Mohamed Selmane was born October 9, 1958 in Nabeul. He is currently the General Director of the Tunisian-Libyan Investment Office. Salmane is also the Director of Tunisia Highway Company.
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Biography
Age: 53 years
Experience: CEO of the Tunisian-Libyan Investment Office
Political Party: Ennahdha
Minister of Finance
Houcine Dimassi
Description
He taught at the Faculty of Law and Sciences in Tunis from 1973 to 1968, within this period, he received his Doctorate in Economics in 1983, he became a Professor in the Faculty of Law and Sciences in Sousse in 1968, he was known for his union activism in the Tunisian General Worker’s Union. He was also determined in training and studying within the operating sector.
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Biography
Age: 63 years
Experience: Professor in the Faculty of Law and Sciences in Sousse
Political Party: Ettakatol
Minister of Planning and Regional Development
Jamel Eddine Gharbi
Description
He received a PhD from IHEC University in Montreal, Canada. Gharbi is a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Economics, and Management in Jendouba. He is also the Vice President of Jendouba University.
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Biography
Age: 47 years
Experience: Vice President of Jendouba University
Political Party: Ennahdha
Minister of Youth and Sports
Tarek Dhiab
Description
Known as the “Tunisian Michel Platini” Tarak Dhiab is a former football player, businessman, and TV commentator for the Al-Jazeera Sports TV channel..
Biography
Age: 57 years
Experience: Soccer player, AlJazeera-Sport anchor
Political Party: Independent
Minister of Culture
Mehdi Mabrouk
Description
Mahdi Mabrouk is a famed Tunisian sociologist and an author of numerous books. His latest book is called voile et sel (2010), which addresses illegal immigration from Tunisia to European countries along the Mediterranean sea such as France and Italy.
Biography
Age:
Experience: Tunisian sociologist and an author of numerous books
Political Party: Independent
Minister of Women’s Affairs
Sihem Badi
Description
She has had a long academic career studying in the Secondary School of Chebi in Tozuer, the Faculty of Medicine in Tunis and the University of Paris 7. She current work has been with the Doctor’s Governing Body in Paris, France in charge of the Multidisciplinary Cabinet.
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Biography
Age: 44 years
Experience: Worked with the Doctor’s Governing Body in Paris, France in charge of the Multidisciplinary Cabinet.
Political Party: CPR
Minister of Higher Education
Moncef Ben Salem
Description
Moncef Ben Salem is an influential member of the moderate Islamic party, Ennahda, and is now the party’s deputy in the Constituent Assembly from the Sfax 1 electoral district. Ben Salim has been proposed by the governing coalition as the Minister of Higher Education in the interim government.
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Biography
Age: 58 years
Experience: Eminent professor of Mathematics and Physics at the Faculty of science at the University of Sfax.
Political Party: Ennahdha
Minister of Social Affairs
Khalil Zaouia
Description
Since Ettakatol was legalized in 2002, Zaouia has been tasked with Ettakatol’s international affairs. He was the head of the Ettakatol list in the Tunis 2 district and is now a member of the Constituent Assembly.
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Biography
Age: 50 years
Experience: Head of the orthopedic department in the La Marsa hospital in Tunis.
Political Party: Ettakatol
Minister of State Property and Real Estate Affairs
Slim Ben Hamidene
Description
Ben Hamidene went into exile in Libya and Sudan, where he stayed for six months before moving to Lebanon. He continued his studies in Lebanon at the College of Law in Beirut.
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Biography
Age: 42 years
Experience: Founding members of Congress for the Republic
Political Party: CPR
Minister of Agriculture
Mohamed Ben Salem
Description
In 1987 he spent nine months in prison, and two and a half months between the years 1990 and 1991. Ben Salem subsequently fled the country to France where he spent the next 20 years.
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Biography
Age: 58 years
Experience: Head of the Ennahdha party in 1991.
Political Party: Ennahdha
Minister of Environment
Memia Benna
Description
Memia Benna was an assistant professor in Bizert School of Science in the Department of Chemistry. She is now the Secretary General of the Higher Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology in Borj Cedria.
Biography
Age:
Experience: Secretary General of the Higher Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology in Borj Cedria.
Political Party: Independent
Deputy Prime Minister for Transparency and Fighting Corruption
Abderrahman Ladgham
Description
He pursued his studies in Paris and specialized in ENT (ear, nose and throat) Cancer. In 1977, he returned to Tunisia and worked in Salah Azaiz Hospital where he spent the following 30 years and occupied the positions of President of the Health Council and President of Medical Committee.
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Biography
Age: 64 years
Experience: M.D. Author of more than 200 medical essays.President of the Health Council and President of Medical Committee at Salah Azaiz Hospital.
Political Party: Ettakatol
Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Reform
Mohamed Abbou
Description
Mohamed Abbou is a member of the political bureau of the Congress for the Republic party (CPR), the second major winner (29 seats/217) of the Oct. 23rd constituent assembly election in Tunisia.
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Biography
Age: 45 years
Experience: Lawyer
Political Party: CPR
Deputy Prime Minister for Economy
Ridha Saidi
Description
Biography
Age:
Experience:
Political Party: Ennahdha
Deputy Prime Minister for Relations with the Constituent Assembly
Abderazek Kilani
Description
He was known for his human activism nationally and internationally when he was elected Deputy President of the Tunisian Association of Young Lawyers for a term between 1988 and 1989, he subsequently became the organization’s President between 1990 and 1991.
Biography
Age:56 years
Experience:Lawyer, former member of the Tunisian Confederation of Tennis, member of the administration of the Espérance Sportive de Tunis football team.
Political Party:Independant
Secretary of State for the Minister of Foreign Affairs Responsible for America and Asia
Hedi Ben Abbas
Description
Hedi Ben Abbas was born on August 5th in Tboursek, which is situated in the northwest governorate of Beja. Ben Abbes is a member of the Congress for the Republic party (CPR) and he is currently nominated to serve as Secretary of State for the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Americas and Asian division.
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Biography
Age: 50 years
Experience: Cofounder of the CPR. Editor of political articles published in a French magazine titled “L’Audace.”
Political Party: CPR
Secretary of State for the Minister of Interior Responsible for Local Committees
Said Mechichi
Description
Biography
Age:
Experience:
Political Party: Ettakatol
Secretary of State for the Minister of Foreign Affairs Responsible for African and Arab Affairs
Abdullah Turki
Description
Biography
Age:
Experience:
Political Party:
Secretary of State for the Minister of Foreign Affairs Responsible for European Affairs
Touhami Abdouli
Description
Biography
Age:
Experience:
Political Party:
Secretary of State for the Minister of Industry and Commerce
El Bachir Zaafouri
Description
Biography
Age:
Experience:
Political Party:
Secretary of State for Minister of Finance
Salim Besbes
Description
Biography
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You guys should add the pictures that match each resume.
Totally agree. The Deputy Prime Minister for Transparency and fighting corruption is a MD. WHAT????????????
SO TO BE PART OF THIS GOVERNMENT YOU HAVE TO EITHER HAVE LIVED IN EXILE OR HAVE BEEN ARRESTED BY THE OLD DICTATOR’S REGIME…
DOES ANY ONE ON THIS LIST KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT LAW OR POLITICAL SCIENCE.
I’M JUST SAYING MAY BE WE NEED TO LOOK FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED AND NOT PEOPLE THAT HAVE A CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDERS.
ALL I SEE IS POWER HUNGRY PEOPLE ON THIS LIST. AND THE WHEEL KEEPS ON TURNING. WE SHOULD REACH ANOTHER REVOLUTION IN ANOTHER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
A SOCCER PLAYER AS A MINISTER !
Que des sales têtes
What happened to Mohamed el Hashimi? Surely the man who won 15% of the votes has a role?