Tunisia parliament rejects government

Bloomberg

Tunisia’s parliament rejected the government put together by PM Habib Jemli, a move that could delay efforts to implement reforms in the North African nation.
Jemli won the votes of 72 of the 217 deputies in parliament in the vote of confidence, according to the Watania 1 television station. The move gives President Kais Saied a key role in appointing a new candidate to form the government.
According to the constitution, if Jemli’s government fails to get the necessary backing, Saied will assign another figure he chooses to form the government.
Jemli was picked as prime minister in November by Ennahda, the moderate radical party that won the most seats in the previous month’s legislative elections. None of the parties won a majority in the election and Jemli has struggled to form a coalition government because larger groups such as the populist Heart of Tunisia have refused to join forces.
The lack of a clear winner in the legislative elections late last year reflected the challenges confronting Tunisia. The president was elected as voters rejected the country’s political establishment.