Tunisian Prime Minister Expresses Concern For Tunisia’s Economic Situation

Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali

Tunisia’s Prime Minister, Hamadi Jebali expressed his concern regarding the deteriorating economic situation in Tunisia Saturday, January 21st, in an interview broadcasted on Al Wataniya, Hannibal, and Nessma TV. Jebali stated that the Tunisian economy has suffered from losses that have amounted to 2.5 billion Tunisian Dinars.

According to Jebali  Tunisia’s Phosphate Mine and Chemical Group – and integral contributor to Tunisia’s national economic output –  has lost up to 1.2 billion dinars. He cited the escalation of strikes and protests, which have blocked critical access roads leading in and out of Tunisia’s marginalized interior regions, as a contributing factor in the economic downturn the country currently faces.

“This type of behavior distorts the aims of the revolution,” Jebali asserted.

Jebali also reiterated that the development of Tunisia’s internal provinces is among the government’s highest priorities – echoing a central component of his party’s political platform in the campaign preceding the October 23rd elections.

In addition to clarifying the worrisome state of the economy, Jebali touched upon a number of pressing social issues during his address. These included the provision of free medical care and improved services to those wounded during the revolution, the interim government’s unchanged position vis-à-vis the protests at Manouba University, and his condemnation of the personal smear attack against the Minister of the Interior – Ali Laarayedh.

Jebali stated that the government will continue working toward the recovery of state assets stolen by deposed President Ben Ali and his associates.

The Prime Minister also stressed that the current government would not extend it’s mandate beyond the promised, one-year, time frame - though the passage of a formal deadline has yet to be settled within the Constituent Assembly.