This is a list of all presidents of Tunisia from 1957 to the present:
| Name | Term | Political Party |
|---|---|---|
| Habib Bourguiba | 25 July 1957 – 7 November 1987 | Neo-Destour |
| Zine El Abidine Ben Ali | 7 November 1987 – 14 January 2011 | Socialist Destourian Party (SDP) |
| Mohamed Ghannouchi | 14 January 2011 – 15 January 2011 | Democratic Constitutional Rally (DCR) |
| Fouad Mebazaa | 15 January 2011 – 13 December 2011 | Independent |
| Moncef Marzouki | 13 December 2011 – 31 December 2014 | Congress for the Republic (CFR) |
| Beji Caid Essebsi | 31 December 2014 – 25 July 2019 | Nidaa Tounes |
| Mohamed Ennaceur | 25 July 2019 – 23 October 2019 | Independent |
| Kais Saied | 23 October 2019 – Present | Independent |
READ ALSO: List Of All Presidents Of Rwanda (1961-Present)
Who Was The First President Of Tunisia?
The first president of Tunisia was Habib Bourguiba, who served from July 25, 1957, until November 7, 1987. Bourguiba is a popular figure In Tunisia’s history after helping the country to independence from French colonial rule and setting up a modern state.
Habib Bourguiba was born on August 3, 1903, in Monastir. He came from a modest background, and he studied in Tunisia and later went to France, where he studied law and political science.
In the 1930s, he started his political career by joining nationalist movements that wanted to end the French protectorate.
In 1934, he helped start the Neo Destour party, which became a leading group in the fight for independence. Because of his activism, Bourguiba was arrested many times and even spent time in exile.
Despite these challenges, he remained a key figure in the struggle for Tunisian sovereignty. Tunisia gained independence on March 20, 1956, after many negotiations and an armed struggle against colonial forces.
Bourguiba was named Prime Minister of the newly independent Kingdom of Tunisia. However, he wanted to create a republic.
On July 25, 1957, Tunisia was declared a republic, and Bourguiba became its first president. He held this position for 30 years.
During his presidency, Bourguiba made many important changes to modernize Tunisia. He focused on improving education, healthcare, and women’s rights.
READ ALSO: List Of All Presidents Of Trinidad And Tobago (1976-Present)
Who Is Tunisia’s New President?
Tunisia’s new president is Kais Saied, and he has been in office since October 23, 2019. Kais Saied was elected during a time when Tunisia was going through a lot of political changes.
This was after the 2011 revolution that removed the long-time ruler, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Kais Saied ran as an independent candidate.
He won the presidency with a strong message against corruption and for government reform. In the second round of elections, he got about 72.7% of the votes.
Since he became president, Kais Saied has made some controversial decisions. In July 2021, he suspended the parliament and dismissed the prime minister.
Many people saw this as an authoritarian move. He said he did this because the country was facing political and economic problems.
However, his actions led to unrest and protests from different political groups and civil society organizations. Kais Saied also introduced a new constitution.
This new constitution gives more power to the president. Because of this change, Tunisia is now more of a presidential republic.
Some people support this change because they believe it will bring stability. Others are worried that it weakens democratic institutions and takes away civil liberties.
That said, Tunisia’s next presidential election is scheduled for October 6, 2024. Although Kais Saied has not officially announced that he will run for re-election, many people think he will. The political situation in Tunisia is tough right now.