Historical Overview of Presidents of Tunisia
From 1956 until 2011, Tunisia experienced a period of governance that was predominantly characterized by authoritarian rule. During this era, the nation was led by two main figures: Habib Bourguiba and Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. Following the Tunisian Revolution in 2011, a transition to democratic governance commenced, resulting in the establishment of a new constitution and multiple elections. Subsequently, the country was briefly overseen by interim presidents, Fouad Mebazaa and Moncef Marzouki. Presently, the President of Tunisia is elected by the populace for a term of five years. Tunisia has seen a succession of presidents since its independence, which are detailed below:
Habib Bourguiba
Habib Bourguiba assumed the presidency of the Republic of Tunisia on June 25, 1957, following a decree from the Tunisian National Constituent Council, to serve until a permanent president was elected. The new constitution was adopted on June 1, 1959, during which Bourguiba was the sole candidate for the presidency, securing 91% of the vote. His initial term lasted five years, after which he successfully ran for three consecutive terms. Following his fourth candidacy and subsequent victory, he was declared President of the Tunisian Republic for life. Bourguiba remained in power until November 7, 1987, when he was ousted in a coup led by Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. His tenure spanned from 1957 to 1987.
Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali
Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali initially served as Prime Minister and Minister of Interior during Bourguiba’s presidency. On November 7, 1987, Ben Ali announced that Bourguiba was unfit for office due to health reasons, leading to Bourguiba’s placement under provisional presidency until a new election could be held. On April 2, 1989, Ben Ali was elected as the President of Tunisia for a five-year term. He went on to secure three consecutive re-elections without opposition. The Tunisian Revolution began on December 17, 2010, culminating in the fall of Ben Ali’s regime on January 14, 2011. Following his departure, Muhammed Ghannouchi, the Prime Minister, assumed the presidency for one day. Ben Ali’s presidency lasted from 1987 to 2011.
Fouad Mebazaa
On January 15, 2011, Fouad Mebazaa was appointed as interim president by the National Constituent Council. Elections were supposed to occur within 45 to 60 days. However, the 1959 Constitution was abolished on March 3, 2011, and a Constituent Assembly was elected to draft a new constitution. Mebazaa held the presidential office on an interim basis until new elections were conducted, serving from January to December 2011.
Moncef Marzouki
Moncef Marzouki was elected as President of the Republic of Tunisia by the National Constituent Council on December 12, 2011. He was inaugurated the following day, becoming the first Tunisian president without ties to the ruling party. His presidency concluded on December 31, 2014, marking his term from 2011 to 2014.
Béji Caïd Essebsi
Following the Tunisian Revolution in 2011, Béji Caïd Essebsi became the first president elected through direct suffrage after the revolution. Assuming office on December 31, 2014, he became the fifth president of the Tunisian Republic. Tragically, Essebsi passed away while in office on July 25, 2019. His presidency lasted from 2014 to 2019.
Mohamed Naceur
Mohamed Naceur was appointed as the interim president following the death of Béji Caïd Essebsi, as stipulated by the constitution, on July 25, 2019. His term was the shortest in the history of Tunisian presidents, lasting until elections were held in September 2019 that resulted in a new president. Naceur served from July 2019 to October 2019.
Kaïs Saïed
Kaïs Saïed was elected as President of the Republic in September 2019 and officially took office on October 23, 2019. He currently holds the presidential position in Tunisia.