国际英语新闻:Tunisian PM-designate unveils lineup of new gov't

TUNIS, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian Prime Minister-designate Elyes Fakhfakh announced on Saturday the lineup of his proposed government.

The new cabinet is composed of 31 members, including 29 ministers and two secretaries of state.

Among the government members are six women of four ministers and two secretaries of state.

During a brief press briefing, Fakhfakh said he had agreed with President Kais Saied to continue consultations with the various parties and parliamentary coalitions over government formation until the expiry of the constitutional deadline of Feb. 20.

A few hours before the announcement of the new government, the Islamist party Ennahdha (Renaissance), announced it will not grant confidence to Fakhfakh's cabinet.

"Ennahdha will not give confidence to this government," said Abdelkarim Harouni, chairman of Ennahdha consultative assembly at a press briefing.

Ennahdha, which has a majority of 54 seats in parliament, rejects Fakhfakh's exclusion of the Heart of Tunisia party, which has 38 seats, from his new government's lineup.

In a note published on his official Facebook account earlier in the day, Nabil Karoui, head of the Heart of Tunisia party affirmed his decision to join the opposition.

Meanwhile, Abir Moussi, head of the Free Destourian Party with 17 seats in the parliament, and Seifeddine Makhlouf, spokesperson for the Coalition for Dignity Party with 21 seats, also announced their parties' decision not to vote for the new government.

From his appointment on Jan. 20, Fakhfakh would have a month to form his government and submit it to parliament for approval, where he needs at least the votes of 109 out of 217 deputies.

If the prime minister-designate failed to form a new government within the constitutional deadline, the president would have full right to dissolve the parliament and call for early legislative elections.