TUNIS
By Reda al-Tamtam
Tunisia's Prime Minister-designate Mehdi Jomaa is almost ready with the lineup of his government, sources told Anadolu Agency.
According to the sources, Jomaa, who was tasked last week by President Moncef Marzouqi to form a new government, is putting the final touches on his 16-member government.
Controversy has already surrounded the anticipated Cabinet lineup.
Local media had reported that Jewish Tunisian businessman Rene Trabelsi is Jomaa's nominee for the tourism portfolio.
But the nomination reportedly drew reservations from the ire of Tunisia's largest Islamist movement Ennahda on grounds that Trabelsi – who owns a number of tourism enterprises in the country's south – is closely affiliated with the regime of ousted President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.
According to the sources, Jomaa is trying to convince the four sponsors of the country's national dialogue and opposition parties to keep outgoing interior minister Lotfi Ben Jedou in his position.
Jomaa, the outgoing minister of industry in the Islamist-led government of Ali Larayedh, is already facing media allegations of corruption in his ministry.
Last month, Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda Party and opposition forces agreed on Jomaa to serve as the country's new premier as a step to resolve Tunisia's political crisis.
Political tension has engulfed Tunisia since the assassination of opposition leader Choukri Belaid in February of last year.
The crisis intensified after a second assassination targeting leftist leader Mohamed al-Brahmi in July, which prompted mass rallies calling for the dismissal of the Islamist-led government and the formation of a government of "national salvation."
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