The countdown to the fourth and final interim government within Tunisia’s arduous transition was launched on Christmas Day, as newly nominated Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa was given a two-week period, starting Dec. 25, to form an independent and nonpartisan government.
The timeline was part of a “near-consensus” agreement reached by political parties within the “national dialogue” and carried out under the aegis of the trade unions. The clinched deal provided for the adoption of a new constitution, the setting up of an independent electoral body and the formation of a new independent government before the “third anniversary of the revolution” on Jan. 14, 2014.
