Najla Bouden Romdhane: Tunisia’s first female PM

Najla Bouden Romdhane has become the first female prime minister of Tunisia on September 29, 2021.

Highlights

• She has been named as Prime Minister, two months after President Kais Saied assumed his charge, dismissed the former prime minister and suspended parliament.
• Romdhane was assigned to form a new government in the midst of growing domestic and international discontent regarding president’s power seizure.
• Romdhane is expected to have less direct power as compared to former prime ministers under the 2014 constitution. This is because, President Saied announced during the emergency period that the new government will be responsible to the president.

What challenges she will face?

• Romdhane in her capacity will have to inherit political and economic crisis that has gripped Tunisia during the past few years. Crisis has worsened since President Saied took “exceptional measures.”
• Recently President Saied issued presidential decrees and announced plans to form a transitional government. He also announced new electoral rules.
• Tunisia is also facing outbreak of the COVID-19 strains in most states.

Who is Najla Bouden Romdhane?

Romdhane is a professor of geology at the National School of Engineers in Tunis. She was born in the year 1958 in Tunisia’s central Kairouan province. Before appointed as prime minister, she was assigned to implement programmes with the World Bank, by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. In 2011, she worked as the director-general in charge of quality at Ministry of Higher Education.

About Tunisia

Tunisia is the northernmost country of Africa. It is bordered by Algeria, Libya and the Mediterranean Sea. It also comprises eastern end of the Atlas Mountains and northern reaches of the Sahara Desert.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2021