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New Tunisian Government Faces Old Challenges

A new, more technocratic Tunisian government, expected to be approved March 12, will face a crippling economic crisis and an even more fractious political environment since the murder of opposition politician Chokri Belaid on Feb. 6, writes Mishca Benoit-Lavelle from Tunis.
Tunisia's Prime Minister Ali Larayedh (L) gives the list of the new coalition government to President Moncef Marzouki in Tunis March 8, 2013. Larayedh unveiled a new Islamist-led coalition government on Friday that he said would serve only until an election is held before the end of the year. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi (TUNISIA - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3EQOD

TUNIS, Tunisia – With Prime Minster Ali Larayedh's new government headed for narrow parliamentary approval on Tuesday [March 12], Tunisia is set to make a tired and lumbering exit from its month long political crisis, marked by bickering and lack of unity on all political sides.

The return to stability which should follow will be a welcome relief both to citizens and to investors, who saw Tunisia's sovereign credit rating downgraded by Standard and Poor's as a direct result of the events. But just how long that stability will last will depend on how much the government can improve on its previous record.

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