02/09/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 2 September, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service welcomed the vote of confidence in Tunisia in the government of technocrats put forward by the Prime Minister-designate, Hichem Mechichi, by Tunisia’s Assembly of the Representatives of the People, with 134 votes in favour from a total of 217. “We hope that this development will provide the political stability the country needs in order to address its socio-economic challenges, which have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic”, the spokesperson added. The spokesperson highlighted the EU's privileged partnership with Tunisia and reiterated the Union's willingness to work closely with the new government to pursue sustainable development for the country and particularly to support the reform process. The Tunisian government has 25 ministers and three secretaries of state, eight of whom are women. Othman Jerandi becomes Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad. (CG)