Tunisia parliament approves new cabinet

Tunisia’s parliament has approved Prime Minister-designate Mehdi Jomaa’s new caretaker government, who says his top priorities will be restoring security and reviving the economy.

After a marathon session broadcast live on national television early on Wednesday, the proposed cabinet was approved by 149 lawmakers, with 20 voting against and 24 abstaining.

Jomaa’s government will also be tasked with guiding the North African nation to elections for a new parliament and president later this year.

Jomaa, who was the industry minister in the outgoing government, formed his new government and presented a list of his proposed cabinet members to the president on Sunday.

On the same day, the country’s new constitution was approved by the National Assembly.

Jomaa is Tunisian fifth prime minister since the 2011 revolution that toppled former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.