Tunisia taps former senator in ousted regime to head central bank

TUNIS, Tunisia – A former senator in the regime of ousted Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has been elected governor of the North African country’s central bank.

Chedli Ayari, a 79-year-old economist, was elected Tuesday after a fierce debate in the parliament. His detractors objected to his past ties to Ben Ali, who was removed from power in January 2011.

However, in the end his supporters, who pointed to his experience, prevailed. Ayari won the balloting in the National Constituent Assembly by just eight votes — with 97 for him and 89 against.

It was the closest vote since the assembly was created in November 2011.