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.

After the assassination of opposition leader Chokri Belaid last month, Islamist Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali proposed replacing the country's leaders with non-partisan technocrats, a plan his own party rejected. Jebali stepped down, and Larayedh was charged with forming a new government. After two weeks of negotiations, Ennahdha's secular coalition partners finally managed to convince the party to cede its hold on some important ministries.

“We managed to get the four key ministries given to independents with no links to parties in power or other parties. They are figures that can guarantee the absolute neutrality of the government. That gives a message of confidence,” said Mohammed Bennour, the spokesman for the secularist Ettakatol party, one of Ennahdha's coalition partners.