Who Is Najla Bouden? Tunisian President Appoints First Female Prime Minister

Who Is Najla Bouden? Tunisia's President, Kais Saied appointed Najla Bouden Romdhane as the first female Prime Minister of Tunisia, on September 29. The appointment comes two months after Saied assumed the position of President. He has tasked her with forming a government quickly.

Najla Bouden Romdhane, is a professor, she teaches at the National School of Engineers in Tunisia, and specialises in geology. The 63-year-old hails from Kairouan and is largely unknown to the general public. Here is what we know about the first woman prime minister of Tunisia.

• In 2011, Romdhane became the director-general of quality in the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and in 2015 she held the position of the project manager in the office of Minister Slim Choura. Choura became the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in 2020.
• In September of 2016, Romdhane was appointed as the head of the management unit by objectives for the execution of the higher education reform project. She has also worked at the World Bank.
• As per reports, the first female Prime Minister of Tunisia will take office in a time of national crisis. Kais Saied had dismissed the previous Prime minister,  Hichem Mechichi back in July this year, and the position had been vacant since then.
• Kais Saied suspended the parliament and assumed wide executive powers, and has been under growing domestic and international pressure to form a new government. Last week, he stated, against the constitution, that he could rule largely by decree.
• Saied, on Wednesday stated, that it is the first time in the history of Tunisia that a woman has led the government, and that it is an honour to Tunisia and Tunisian women. She will be the 10th Prime Minister of the country.

Tunisia currently faces a large crisis in public finances, after years of a facing a stagnant economy, which was then aggravated after the coronavirus pandemic and political infighting.

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