Ahmad 
Tunisian President Kais Saied dismissed Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani on Wednesday and appointed Social Affairs Minister Kamel Maddouri in his place, the presidency said in an official statement.
The statement explained that Kais Saied received Maddouri at Carthage Palace and decided to assign him to head the government, succeeding Hachani, who was appointed on August 1, succeeding former Prime Minister Najla Bouden.
Maddouri, who has been Minister of Social Affairs since May after his predecessor Malek Zahi was dismissed, previously headed the “National Social Security Fund”, a government body.
These political changes come as Tunisia prepares for the presidential elections scheduled for next October, amid widespread controversy over the political climate and government orientations.
President Saied, who was first elected in October 2019, has strengthened his executive powers after dismissing the former prime minister and dissolving parliament.
In another development that has heightened political tensions in the country, a Tunisian court has sentenced four potential presidential candidates to eight months in prison and banned them from running for office for life, on charges of “buying endorsements.”
These rulings have drawn sharp criticism from the opposition, which has accused the authorities of using the judiciary to eliminate Saied’s political rivals.
Tunisian olive oil export revenues increased by 80% to $1.41 billion