Why Was Tunisia Prime Minister Najla Bouden Sacked Overnight?

In recent news, Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed Prime Minister Najla Bouden with no explanation on Tuesday night, replacing her with former central bank executive Ahmed Hachani. While there was no official explanation for Bouden’s dismissal, this news comes in the middle of shortages faced by Tunisia, especially of bread in state-subsidised bakeries. 

According to a press release and video released by the government shortly before midnight, Saied “terminated the functions” of Bouden, the first woman to lead a government in Tunisia. In her place, Saied immediately appointed the then-unknown Hachani, who, till recently, worked at the Tunisian central bank and studied law at the University of Tunis, according to his Facebook post. In the presidency video, where Hachani is sworn into government, Saied wishes him “good luck in his responsibility,” stating that “there are colossal challenges that we must overcome with a solid and strong will, in order to protect our homeland, our state, and social peace."

Bread Shortages

Over the last few weeks, several government meetings have occurred between the president and ministers over the problem of subsidised bread shortages in several regions in Tunisia. According to the media, President Saied, who had recently stated “bread is a red line for Tunisians,” fears a second iteration of the 1983-84 Bread riots in Tunisia, which left around 150 people dead under Habib Bourgiba, the father of Tunisian independence. 

Facing a low-wage economy and strapped for cash, the Tunisian government has centralised the purchase of a large number of essential ingredients needed to bake bread since the 1970s, such as flour, semolina, sugar, coffee, and cooking oil, before placing them on the market at subsidised prices. According to economists, the North African country’s sporadic shortages of these essential ingredients can be linked to the requirement that supplies be paid in advance, something the government has had trouble doing.

Economic Troubles

Burdened with a debilitating public wage bill from a civil service that employs less than 1% of its population, Tunisia is struggling with debt that amounts to almost 80% of its GDP and is seeking foreign aid to counter its effects. In October, the Tunisian government reached a tentative deal for a $1.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, the bailout comes with conditions that Tunis undertake a “comprehensive economic reform programme” that would phase out subsidies on fuel and electricity, with the IMF also calling for legislation to restructure more than 100 state-owned firms, which hold monopolies over large parts of the economy and, in many cases, are heavily indebted. 

Hopes of an IMF bailout; however, look slim. President Kais Saied has repeatedly rejected such ventures, claiming that “foreign diktats that will lead to more poverty are unacceptable.”

Domestic Woes

Najla Bouden, the recently dismissed ex-PM, was appointed into her role by the president on October 11, 2021, two and a half months after the president gave himself sweeping powers to change the constitution, reduce the ability of parliament, and grant his office unlimited power. As a result, the legislative elections at the end of 2022 were boycotted by opposition parties and voters alike, with a voter turnout of around 10%.

Over the last few months, the president has ordered the dismissal of various ministers in government, including the foreign minister, with no explanation. Furthermore, since last February, around twenty opposition leaders, media and business figures in Tunisia, have been accused of “plotting against state security” and jailed in a wave of arrests, including Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party and one of the president’s notable critics.

The crisis Tunisia has been going through seems to have been compounded by many global factors as well- COVID-19, and the Russia-Ukraine War, have heavily impacted its economy, and have added to the domestic political crisis. According to Wionnews, besides being heavily indebted, economic growth is at 2% while the rate of poverty is rising, and unemployment has risen to a high of 15%. 

Suggested reading: Najla Bouden Named Tunisia's First Woman Prime Minister