Hamadi Jebali presents programme of new government

Prime Minister-designate Hamadi Jebali addressed on Thursday afternoon the Constituent Assembly affirming that "the commitment to run the country's affairs requires to give proof of frankness, transparency and clarity, to listen in to people's concerns and to make the civil society join in for a fair assessment of the situation and the minutely detailed identification of all the problems inherited from the former regime so as to work out the adequate policies and definitively break up with despotism.'' He went on saying that the next period should be that of extended participation of all parties: majority and minority, government and opposition, civil society and associations, elite and youths, men and women without exclusion or marginalisation, for the building-up of new Tunisia. The new government, Mr. Jebali declared, will endeavour without further delay to achieve urgent objectives, including restoring people's rights and doing justice to the families of martyrs and wounded among the revolution children and the victims of dictatorship. The government will also endeavour, he added, to meet the expectations of the jobless and notably the young graduates, in matters of employment and decent life, quoting in this regard the boosting of national and foreign investments and the development of training centres. He announced as well the creation of 20 to 25 000 jobs in the civil service and the employment opportunities in neighbouring and friendly states, notably Libya, Gulf countries and Europe. Mr. Hamadi Jebali said it is necessary to establish a new social contract based on partnership between the different parties and suggested to set up a national council of social contract chaired by a national competent figure. He also affirmed that his government will increase assistance for poor and without support-families through a rise in their monthly allowance and a rise in the number of beneficiaries to reach 235 000 families, which means 50 000 families more, and through providing them with free health care and medicines and encouraging voluntary work and Zakat (charity) funds. After assessing the delicate economic situation the country is living through, he said that political tension and security drift after the revolution as well as the blocking of production channels and the decline in foreign investments, in addition to the poor performance of tourist trade, have had a negative impact on the economy and worsened the situation. The PM outpointed that the new government was committed to the right of peaceful protests and strikes as much as it is opposed to any violation of public and private property and any attempt to hold up regular public services and disrupt public order, reaffirming commitment to ensure security on the basis of compliance with the law and human rights. As regards the situation in inland regions, Mr. Jebali said it will top priorities so as to make these areas active development poles, through a review of public services notably in matters of health with more medical specialisations and improvement of medical equipment in regional hospitals. To revive investments, he affirmed that the efforts will focus on the promotion of public and private investment in regions through setting up industrial areas, easing administrative, land and law procedures, and developing the railway connection in some regions, ports and airports. In social matters, the aim of the next government is to provide decent lodgings to underprivileged classes in inland remote areas and rebuild 30 popular districts in the inner suburbs of great cities. As to tourist trade, the PM announced that an additional budget will be allocated to the sector. As concerns agricultural development, the government has approved an emergency plan relating to small farmers' debts to make sure the new season goes smoothly. On the other hand, Mr. Jebali affirmed that the government will start thorough reforms of the institutions poisened by corruption, whether in the sectors of security, justice, civil service or within banks and financial institutions. Speaking of education, he said that the government will open a national dialogue with all the parties concerned (teachers, parents, students, academics...to work out a model to promote the education system. In the information sector, the Head of the Government said it will have the benefit of all due care so that the information might be free, independent and in the service of the objectives of the society, stressing that there will be no more censorship or supervision. Besides, he said that a thorough, comprehensive and progressive reform will be carried out to fight against all forms of corruption, embezzlement and misappropriation of public money. As regards the expatriates, he said that a Secretariat of State will be entrusted with their guidance and interests. Finally and about Tunisia's foreign relations, Mr. Jebali stressed the development of relations with Maghreb neighbours and especially Libya and Algeria, with ''Arab brothers'', European Union partners, the United States and the African and Islamic countries. He affirmed that Tunisia will keep on supporting the Palestinian cause and defending the legitimate rights of Palestinians to recover their land and build-up their independent state with "Al-Qods" as its capital.