Tunis, January 15: The Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali reshuffled his cabinet on Thursday, with a change of guard in 13 ministries, including foreign affairs, defence and finance.
The reorganisation, announced by Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi, is Ben Ali’s first since his re-election in October.
Kamel Morjane, the defence minister, takes over foreign affairs, replacing Abdelwaheb Abdallah, according to the new list of ministers published by the TAP news agency. Abdallah was for years one of the closest advisors for Ben Ali. He served 13 years as head of the presidential office before moving to the foreign ministry.
Defence is taken by Ben Ali loyalist Ridha Grira, while the finance ministry goes to government newcomer Mohamed Ridha Chalghoum.
Ben Ali affirmed Oussama Romdhani as minister of information. Romdhani was the acting minister of information since September 2009.
Other portfolios to change hands include social affairs, justice and human rights, higher education and tourism.
Ben Ali was re-elected for a fifth term in office with just under 90 percent of the vote.
The following is the list of new ministers.
– Kamel Morjane, Minister of Foreign Affairs
– Lazhar Bououni, Minister of Justice and Human Rights
– Ridha Grira, Minister of National Defence
– Mohamed Ridha Chalghoum, Minister of Finance
– Naceur El Gharbi, Minister of Social Affairs, Solidarity and Tunisians Abroad
– Bechir Tekkari, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
– Slim Tlatli, Minister of Tourism
– Zouheir M’dhaffar, Minister of State Property and Land Affairs
– Bibya Chihi (woman), Minister of Women’s Affairs, Family Childhood and the Elderly
– Mohamed Naceur Ammar, Minister of Communication Technologies
– Mohamed Agrebi, Minister of Vocational Training and Employment
– Afif Chelbi, Minister of Industry and Technology
– Hatem Ben Salem, Minister of Education
– Oussama Romdhani, Minister of Information
– Abdelhakim Bouraoui, Secretary General of the Government in charge of Relations with the Chamber of Deputies and the Chamber of Advisors
– Refaat Chaabouni, Secretary of State to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research in charge of Scientific Research.
—Agencies