国际英语资讯:Tunisian PM says to reshuffle cabinet

TUNIS, July 13 -- Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh decided on Monday to carry out a reshuffle "which will take into account the best interests of" Tunisia and "will be announced in the coming days."

The decision came in reaction to the press conference organized earlier by the Islamist party Ennahda (Renaissance), the majority party in parliament which had decided to break with the sitting government led by Fakhfakh and called for the launch of consultations for a new government.

According to a statement released by the government, Fakhfakh stressed that in recent weeks, he had been making intense efforts to consolidate the ruling coalition.

"These efforts have come up against parallel attempts by the Ennahda party with the intention to introduce significant changes in both form and content of the government action, which has destabilized the government's action and hampered its stability," said the prime minister.

"These calls for change show a lack of responsibility towards the country in this delicate phase which requires more solidarity between the members of the coalition," he added.

Tunisian President Kais Saied had denied the existence of consultations with the parties on changing the current government, in response to the Ennahda party headed by Rached Ghannouchi.

Ennahda, with 54 parliamentary seats, recently voiced its intention to demand the departure of Fakhfakh's government, citing "suspicion of conflict of interests and abuse of power of Fakhfakh."