Tunisian Prime Minister resigns

(Vatican Radio) Tunisia's prime minister has resigned, paving the way for a caretaker government that will supervise new elections later this year.

Listen to Tracey McClure’s report:

Islamist Premier Ali Larayedh announced his decision in a press conference Thursday.

The dissolution of Larayedh’s coalition government follows waves of protests across the country over skyrocketing inflation, unemployment and a series of new taxes levied to cope with Tunisia’s ongoing fiscal crisis.

The collapse of the government represents a defeat for the Islamist Ennahda Party that won elections in 2011 following the tumultuous Arab Spring but has since struggled to guide the country through its transition to democracy.


To end months of political crisis, the party agreed late last year to a deal to hand over power to an independent cabinet which will govern until the election.


Tunisia's new premier, technocrat Mehdi Jomaa, must try to curb the small North African country's deficit and confront a growing threat from Islamist militants.