Tunisian government swears in and Jebali welcomes criticism

The new government headed by Hamadi Jebali The new government headed by Hamadi Jebali, swore-in at the presidential palace, Saturday afternoon, and is scheduled to hold its first meeting early next week to address pressing economic and social issues, top of whichthe employment of youth and the revolution victims’ file. Jebali welcomed all “constructive” criticisms which preceded the work of his government.
Ministers swore-in reciting the following oath “I swear by God Almighty to preserve the independence of the nation, the integrity of its soil, and its republican system, to respect the provisional law of public authorities and legislations, to look after the interests of the country in full terms, and to work to achieve the goals of the revolution.”
Tunisian newly elected President briefly addressed the cabinet members saying “It is time to get to work… Long live Tunisia… Long live the revolution… Long live the democratic state,” adding “To work… to work… to work.”
From his part, PM Hamadi Jebali said “Our people are waiting, and there are several files of priority, top of which; the youth, and the file of the victims of revolution and before the revolution.” In his first comment to the criticisms addressed to his government, Jebali said “Criticisms in a democratic era and system are the norm and we have to get accustomed to it. Opposition is fundamental, democracy cannot exist without opposition. If there were no criticisms there would be no serious work, and we hope that the opposition is constructive and positive during the difficult times which the country is going through.”
In the same context, Economy expert Hasni Nemsiya confirmed that Jebali’s government “will face a difficult test mid next year, where Tunisia raises significant challenges, whether circumstantial or structural. The transitional government will be subject to strict evaluation, following President Moncef Marzouki’s call for a political and social truce for six months, to work on needed reforms which will be assessed afterwards.”
Nemsiya told the Tunisian News Agency “the idea of establishing a social truce extending for months is a good thing, since it would restore confidence to investors from the private sector, and would allow the administration and the general sector to prepare for the introduction of profound reforms and establishing an atmosphere in which citizens can feel secure… however… the size of challenges facing the country have to be pointed out, this period will not be sufficient to take care of the unemployment rate… or reducing the poverty rate, illiteracy, and social exclusion.”
The Tunisian expert said that 2012 should be a year of assessment to programs and politics of the past years, and evaluation of the success of public structures, saying “it is necessary to establish the culture of assessment, which has been absent in the regime of former President Ben Ali.” He stressed that such assessment should target the programs which use significant shares of the country’s budget, for instance educating illiterate adults, local developmental programs, integration mechanisms, agricultural development, and rehabilitation programs.