Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi called on Sunday Prime Minister Youssef Chahed to resign if the political and economic crisis in the north African country persisted. He said that the premier has the choice of either stepping down or facing a no-confidence vote at parliament. “If this situation continues, the prime minister must resign or go to the parliament to ask for confidence,” he said. Political tensions have been on the rise in Tunisia, with Essebsis Nidaa Tounes party increasingly blaming the prime minister for worsening economic conditions. On Monday, Essebsi and Chahed met at the presidential palace with labor unions and employers. In a statement, Essebsis office said the meeting was focused on finding "ways to emerge from the current political crisis" and called on the countrys political parties to act to resolve it. Criticism has been growing as Tunisia struggles with unemployment, corruption and austerity seven years after the 2011 revolution that toppled Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Seven prime ministers have failed to fix a sluggish economy. Turmoil and terrorist attacks have deterred investors and tourists, eroding living standards of ordinary people and causing an increase in unemployment. Annual inflation hit a record high of 7.8 percent in June as the dinar currency tanked, making food imports more expensive.