Tunisian education minister resigns

Tunisian Minister of Education Salem Labyadh said on Sunday that he has told interim Prime Minister Ali Larayedh that he wishes to resign following the assassination of opposition figure Mohamed Brahmi on Thursday. Salem Labyadh said in a statement to Arab Today that he has so far only expressed his wish to resign verbally, assuring that he will remain on the post until a replacement has been appointed or a new government has been formed. He also highlighted that the main reason behind his resignation is the assassination of Brahmi. The minister is one of the leading members of the National Progressive Movement in Tunisia and was close to Brahmi. Although Labyadh’s resignation was expected, he hesitated in announcing it and refused to deny or confirm rumours until late Saturday evening. Tunisian political analysts say the ruling Ennhada party is now concerned that the Labyadh’s resignation will not be the last amongst government members due to the political crisis that has followed Brahmi’s assassination and the opposition movement’s talks of forming a national salvation government and dissolving the Constitutional Assembly and all the government institutions.