Tunisian PM announces resignation amid political crisis

TUNIS - Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali on Tuesday announced his resignation after his failed to form a government of technocrats, state-run TV reported.

Jebali announced his decision after meeting with Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki, saying he resigned to fulfill a promise made to the people, according to the report.

Tunisia's Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali speaks as he announces his resignation during a news conference in Tunis Feb 19, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

Jebali said he would continue to lead the current government until a consensus is reached to form a new one, urging his cabinet to exert itself to ensure that "the state continues to function."

He underlined that an independent cabinet of technocrats would help prevent the country deviating from the right way, noting that the new cabinet's priority should be setting a date for future elections and restoring the confidence of the Tunisian people.

Jebali said Monday that he was unable to build a technocrat government after talks among parties went in vain to produce any consensus to this end.

Analysts said his resignation comes amid a deepening political crisis marked by a growing rift between the ordinary Tunisian people and the political class, in addition to weakening national economy and rising inflation.

Earlier in February, Tunisia's ruling Ennahdha party rejected Jebali's decision to set up a new technocrat cabinet following the assassination of a key opposition figure. However, his initiative is welcomed by a number of major opposition parties.

Last week, Jebali warned he would resign if he failed to muster a consensus to form a government of apolitical technocrats.

Marzouki officially appointed Ennahdha's Jebali, who spent 15 years in jail under former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's rule, as prime minister in December 2011.