Tunisia prime minister’s plan for technocratic government fails

Tunisia Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali said Monday that his plan to form a new government of independent technocrats had failed.

According to France 24, Jebali had announced his plan after the assassination of a prominent opposition politician earlier in February.

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"The initiative of a cabinet of technocrats did not receive full political consensus and failed … but work is continuing with all parties in order to form a government which has the agreement of most of the political parties," Jebali told a news conference, noted France 24.

Following meetings with main political party representatives, the prime minister said a technocratic government was not an option because it did not gain a consensus, reported Al Arabiya. Jebali said they are looking at another solution, but gave no other details other than he had a meeting with President Moncef Marzouki Tuesday to discuss what would happen next.

Tunisia was launched into political crisis when leftist politician Chokri Belaid was killed Feb. 6, leading to anti-government riots across the country, according to the Associated Press. Jebali wanted a technocratic government to bring the country to new elections, but was rejected by his own party, the moderate Islamist Ennahda.