Tunisia's Islamist party Ennahdha announced on Saturday that it will not grant confidence to the new government of Prime Minister-designate Elyes Fakhfakh.

The announcement was made a few hours ahead of the official unveiling of the new government.

"Ennahdha will not give confidence to this government," said Abdelkarim Harouni, Ennahdha's consultative assembly chairman, at a press briefing.

"This decision was taken following the non-satisfaction of our request to form a government of national unity," he added.

Ennahdha, which has a majority of 54 seats in parliament, rejects Fakhfakh's exclusion of the Heart of Tunisia party, which has 38 seats, from his new government's lineup.

In order to gain the confidence of parliament, the proposed government needs at least the votes of 109 out of 217 deputies.