TUNIS
Interim Tunisian Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa has tendered his resignation to newly-elected President Beji Caid Essebsi.
"President Essebsi met Monday with Jomaa, who tendered his resignation," a presidential statement read.
The release noted that Essebsi had asked the interim premier to continue heading the government as caretaker until a new government could be formed.
The development came three days after Prime Minister-designate Habib Essid announced his cabinet lineup, which includes 24 government ministers and 15 state secretaries.
Essid was formally tasked by Essebsi earlier this month to form a new government.
The former interior minister was nominated by Nidaa Tounes, the party that won the most seats in parliament and the presidency last year.
Tunisia parliament delays confidence vote on new govt
Tunisia's parliament has postponed a planned Tuesday session intended to give confidence to the new cabinet of Prime Minister Habib Essid.
"The vote has been postponed because heads of political parties are still at odds over parliament's bylaws," Mohamed al-Torodi, head of parliament's bylaw committee, told The Anadolu Agency.
He said parliament's bylaws should be ratified first before the assembly votes to give confidence to the new government.
"A meeting will be held on Wednesday to settle differences over the bylaws," he said.
Parliament was scheduled to hold a session on Tuesday to give confidence to Essid's new government.
The Islamist Ennahda movement and the leftist Popular Front have both rejected Essid's government.
On Monday, the Afek Tounes party also said it would oppose Essid's government.
In Tunisia's 217-seat parliament, the secular Nidaa Tounes party holds 86 seats, while Ennahda holds 69. The Popular Front and Afek Tounes have 15 and eight seats respectively.
