Najla Bouden Named Tunisia's First Woman Prime Minister

Tunisia named Najla Bouden as its first-ever woman Prime Minister, administration said in a statement on Wednesday. Her appointment comes amid an unfolding political crisis in Tunisia that gained force following President Kais Saied's power grab two months ago.

Protests are raging in Tunisia to agitate against Saied's rule with demands that the parliament, which he suspended last month, be reinstated. Former PM Hichem Mechichi was also suspended.

63-year-old Bouden is a geologist and, though has held positions in the education ministry, she has "little government experience," as per Reuters. 

Najla Bouden: Get To Know Tunisia's First Woman PM

"The President of the Republic Kais Saied charged Najla Bouden with forming a government as quickly as possible," a Facebook statement from his office reads. Ruling authorities are marking Bouden's appointment as the first woman PM of the country as "an honour for Tunisia" and a homage to its women.

Bouden is her country's tenth PM since 2011, the year of the Tunisian Revolution, which overthrew longtime controversial leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and led to democratic elections.

A video on the administration's official channel shows Saied meeting Bouden in his office and handing her power to make a cabinet in the coming days.

Reports suggest Bouden has immense work in education and was the former Director of a reform project, PromESsE. She teaches at Tunisia's National Engineering School and holds a doctorate in geological engineering. Expert commentary holds Bouden's assumption of power at a time the country is going through economic and democratic upheaval.

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