Tunisian President Sacks Finance Minister, Appoints Judge Khaldi Amid Crisis

Tunisian President Kais Saied has dismissed Finance Minister Sihem Boughdiri and appointed judge Michkat Khaldi as her successor amid a severe economic crisis. Khaldi took the oath of office at Carthage Palace and previously led a national commission focused on recovering embezzled public funds. The dismissal comes as Tunisia faces shortages of essential commodities, such as sugar, rice, and cooking gas, exacerbated by ongoing public finance issues. The government has responded by increasing taxes on higher earners and borrowing $2.2 billion from the central bank to manage urgent debts. Khaldi's appointment signals a strategic shift in addressing the country's economic challenges, as she now takes on the responsibility of stabilizing the financial situation. No specific reasons were provided for Boughdiri's removal, which has raised questions about the government's approach to the ongoing crisis.