TUNIS, Tunisia — Salma Elloumi Rekik assumed her post as head of the presidential diwan Nov. 1. She replaced Salim Elezabi, who resigned Oct. 9 due to his opposing the policy adopted by Hafez Caid Essebsi, the executive director of Nidaa Tunis and son of President Beji Caid Essebsi.
Rekik, a 62-year-old businesswoman, served as minister of tourism and handicrafts for three years. She will be the first woman to head the presidential diwan, which oversees the work of the president's advisers, since Tunisia’s 1956 independence. President Essebsi appointed her to the post Oct. 21.