TUNIS - Tunisian President Zine Abidine Ben Ali pledged Sunday that elections to be held later this month would be transparent and democratic, as he launched his campaign for an unprecedented fourth term in office.
---
He pointed to the creation of 70,000 jobs a year and a drop in the unemployment rate to 13.9 percent, and promised to put employment "at the top of priorities again" in a programme emphasising economic and social issues.
He promised help for university graduates, hard hit by joblessness, and help for private initiatives as part of free market reforms.
"It is a programme to strengthen the middle class and its gains," he said setting a goal of raising average income from 3,500 dinars a year (2,560 dollars, 2,062 euros) now to 5,000 dinars by 2009.
Middle East Online
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore