Tunisia’s ruling Ennahda party will allow independent figures to take over the most important ministries in the next government, its leader said on 28 February. “We confirm the neutralisation of the four departments of sovereignty, including the Interior Ministry, which will not be under political parties,” Rached Ghannouchi said. Opposition parties had argued that putting independents in charge of the interior, foreign affairs, justice and defence ministries would improve the political climate and reduce tensions between government and opposition before the vote.
President Moncef Marzouki had asked Interior Minister Ali Larayedh to form a government within 15 days, following the resignation of Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali. Jebali quit after his own Ennahda party rejected his plan for a technocratic Cabinet, excluding political parties, to prepare for elections later this year and calm unrest ignited by the assassination of politician Chokri Belaid on 6 February.