Beji Caid el Sebsi
Encyclopedia
Beji Caid el Sebsi is a Tunisia
n lawyer and politician. Since 27 February 2011, he has been the Prime Minister of Tunisia
.
in a family from the beylical
agricultural makhzen
, he is the direct great-grandson of Ismail Caid Essebsi, a mamluk
of Tunisian corsairs in Sardinia
in the beginning of the 19th century, raised with the beylical family and later an important member of the beylical administration.
He has two sons and two daughters.
, where he began his career with the defence of Neo Destour
activists. After Tunisia's independence in 1956, he joined Prime minister Habib Bourguiba
as an adviser. From 1957 to 1971, he performed various functions such as director of the regional administration, general director of the Sûreté nationale, Interior Minister from 5 July 1965 to 8 September 1969, delegate minister to the Prime minister, Defence Minister from 7 November 1969 to 12 June 1970, and then ambassador in Paris. From October 1971 to January 1972, he advocated a greater democracy in Tunisia and resigned his function, then returned to Tunis. In April 1981, he came back to the government under Mohamed Mzali as Minister of Foreign Affairs
, until September 1986.
In 1987 he was appointed ambassador to Germany
. Between 1990 and 1991, he was the President of the Chamber of Deputies
. His last parliamentary mandate ended in 1994.
On 27 February 2011, he became prime minister after Mohamed Ghannouchi
resigned amid pressure from the Tunisian Revolution
.
As of 27 October 2011, he is said to be one of the three nominees for Tunisia’s President, with other two being Mustapha Ben Jafar
and Moncef Marzouki
.
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n lawyer and politician. Since 27 February 2011, he has been the Prime Minister of Tunisia
Prime Minister of Tunisia
The Prime Minister of the Tunisian Republic is the head of government of Tunisia. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President of Tunisia...
.
Personal life
Born in Sidi Bou SaidSidi Bou Said
Sidi Bou Said is a town in northern Tunisia located about 20 km from the capital, Tunis.The town got its name for a Muslim religious figure who lived there, Abou Said ibn Khalef ibn Yahia Ettamini el Beji . The town itself is a tourist attraction as it is known for the extensive use of blue and...
in a family from the beylical
Beylik of Tunis
-Ottoman beylik:The Beylik of Tunis was founded on July 15, 1705, after the Husainid Dynasty led by Al-Husayn I ibn Ali at-Turki defeated the Turkish Deys....
agricultural makhzen
Makhzen
Makhzen is the governing elite in Morocco and in pre-1957 Tunisia, centered around the king and consisting of royal notables, businessmen, wealthy landowners, tribal leaders, top-ranking military personnel, security service bosses, and other well-connected members of the...
, he is the direct great-grandson of Ismail Caid Essebsi, a mamluk
Mamluk
A Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who were predominantly Cumans/Kipchaks The "mamluk phenomenon", as David Ayalon dubbed the creation of the specific warrior...
of Tunisian corsairs in Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
in the beginning of the 19th century, raised with the beylical family and later an important member of the beylical administration.
He has two sons and two daughters.
Political career
He studied law in Paris and became a lawyer in 1952 at the Tunis barBar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
, where he began his career with the defence of Neo Destour
Neo Destour
The New Constitutional Liberal Party , most commonly known as Neo Destour, was a Tunisian political party that was founded by a group of nationalist politicians during the French protectorate.-History:...
activists. After Tunisia's independence in 1956, he joined Prime minister Habib Bourguiba
Habib Bourguiba
Habib Bourguiba was a Tunisian statesman, the Founder and the first President of the Republic of Tunisia from July 25, 1957 until 7 November 1987...
as an adviser. From 1957 to 1971, he performed various functions such as director of the regional administration, general director of the Sûreté nationale, Interior Minister from 5 July 1965 to 8 September 1969, delegate minister to the Prime minister, Defence Minister from 7 November 1969 to 12 June 1970, and then ambassador in Paris. From October 1971 to January 1972, he advocated a greater democracy in Tunisia and resigned his function, then returned to Tunis. In April 1981, he came back to the government under Mohamed Mzali as Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Tunisia)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia is a cabinet-level governmental agency in Tunisia in charge of conducting and designing the foreign policy of the country.-Organization and structure:...
, until September 1986.
In 1987 he was appointed ambassador to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Between 1990 and 1991, he was the President of the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of Tunisia
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower chamber of the Parliament of Tunisia, the bicameral legislative branch of the government of Tunisia. It has 189 seats and members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms. 20% of the seats are reserved for the opposition. Elections are held in the...
. His last parliamentary mandate ended in 1994.
On 27 February 2011, he became prime minister after Mohamed Ghannouchi
Mohamed Ghannouchi
Mohamed Ghannouchi was the Prime Minister of Tunisia and was self-proclaimed acting President of the country for a few hours starting 14 January 2011, under Article 56 of the Constitution of Tunisia...
resigned amid pressure from the Tunisian Revolution
Tunisian revolution
The Tunisian Revolution is an intensive campaign of civil resistance, including a series of street demonstrations taking place in Tunisia. The events began in December 2010 and led to the ousting of longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011...
.
As of 27 October 2011, he is said to be one of the three nominees for Tunisia’s President, with other two being Mustapha Ben Jafar
Mustapha Ben Jafar
Mustapha Ben Jafar is a Tunisian politician and doctor who has been President of the Constituent Assembly of Tunisia since November 2011...
and Moncef Marzouki
Moncef Marzouki
Moncef Marzouki is a Tunisian human rights activist, politician and physician.-Education and early human rights activities:Born in Grombalia , Marzouki studied medicine at the University of Strasbourg...
.