Constitutional Democratic Rally
Encyclopedia
The Constitutional Democratic Rally ( ), also referred to by its French acronym RCD, formerly called Neo Destour
then Socialist Destourian Party
, was the governing party in Tunisia
. The party was suspended by the minister of interior on February 6th awaiting a decision on its dissolution by judicial authorities. The party held strong majorities in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Chamber of Councillors, though elections in Tunisia were subject to widespread claims of fraud. The 2009 legislative elections resulted in the RCD winning 161 of the 214 seats with the remaining 53 seats going to minority parties. In 2004, the party won 152 of 189 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The remaining 37 seats were occupied by minority parties.
These elections were widely regarded as rigged and they contributed to the discontent shown in the Tunisian Revolution
which pressured President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
into relinquishing authority and fleeing Tunisia. In response to the RCD government clampdown on protests, the Socialist International
ceased the membership of the RCD. In order to placate protesters and designated coalition participants, the incumbent president and prime minister resigned from their memberships in the RCD on January 18 and all remaining RCD-aligned ministers resigned their party memberships on the 20th, the effect of which left the RCD with only a parliamentary majority. On January 27, Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi
carried out a major reshuffle, removing all former RCD members other than himself from the government. On March 9, the party was finally dissolved by the Tunisian courts.
(Constitutional) Party in opposition to French rule
. As the party developed, a schism occurred within the party leading to the founding of the Neo Destour
Party in 1934 by Habib Bourguiba
. Under his leadership, the Neo Destour Party successfully garnered independence from France
in 1956. Eight years later, in 1964, the Neo Destour Party became the Destourian Socialist Party (PSD). From 1963-1981, the PSD was the only legal political party in Tunisia.
In 1981, the PSD faced opposition from Hizb ut-Tahrir
, the Islamic Tendency Movement, the Tunisian Communist Party
, the Movement for Popular Unity and student groups weakening its influence. On November 7, 1987, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, the Prime Minister at the time, became president after Bourguiba was declared medically unfit for office. The following year, President Ben Ali instituted economic reforms increasing economic privatization and renamed the party the Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD).
On 6 February 2011, the Ministry of Interior banned all meetings and activities of the party, and requested the courts to dissolve it. This happened on 9 March, when a court in Tunis announced the dissolution of the former ruling party and the liquidation of its assets and funds, although the party said it would appeal the decision.
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:...
then Socialist Destourian Party
Socialist Destourian Party
The Socialist Destourian Party was the ruling political party of Tunisia from 1964 to 1988. Bahi Ladgham was the first Prime Minister from the party and Hédi Baccouche was the last. It was founded on October 22, 1964 and disbanded on February 27, 1988. Habib Bourgiba was the first president of the...
, was the governing party in Tunisia
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...
. The party was suspended by the minister of interior on February 6th awaiting a decision on its dissolution by judicial authorities. The party held strong majorities in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Chamber of Councillors, though elections in Tunisia were subject to widespread claims of fraud. The 2009 legislative elections resulted in the RCD winning 161 of the 214 seats with the remaining 53 seats going to minority parties. In 2004, the party won 152 of 189 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The remaining 37 seats were occupied by minority parties.
These elections were widely regarded as rigged and they contributed to the discontent shown in 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...
which pressured President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was...
into relinquishing authority and fleeing Tunisia. In response to the RCD government clampdown on protests, the Socialist International
Socialist International
The Socialist International is a worldwide organization of democratic socialist, social democratic and labour political parties. It was formed in 1951.- History :...
ceased the membership of the RCD. In order to placate protesters and designated coalition participants, the incumbent president and prime minister resigned from their memberships in the RCD on January 18 and all remaining RCD-aligned ministers resigned their party memberships on the 20th, the effect of which left the RCD with only a parliamentary majority. On January 27, Prime Minister 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...
carried out a major reshuffle, removing all former RCD members other than himself from the government. On March 9, the party was finally dissolved by the Tunisian courts.
History
In 1920, Tunisian Nationalists formed the DestourDestour
The Constitutional Liberal Party , most commonly known as Destour, was a Tunisian political party, founded in 1920, which had as its the goal to liberate Tunisia from French colonial control....
(Constitutional) Party in opposition to French rule
French Protectorate of Tunisia
The French protectorate of Tunisia was established in 1881, during the Scramble for Africa, and lasted until Tunisian independence in 1956....
. As the party developed, a schism occurred within the party leading to the founding of the 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:...
Party in 1934 by 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...
. Under his leadership, the Neo Destour Party successfully garnered independence from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1956. Eight years later, in 1964, the Neo Destour Party became the Destourian Socialist Party (PSD). From 1963-1981, the PSD was the only legal political party in Tunisia.
In 1981, the PSD faced opposition from Hizb ut-Tahrir
Hizb ut-Tahrir
Hizb ut-Tahrir is an international Sunni. pan-Islamic political organisation but keeps it open for all including shias,some of its beliefs are against sunni school of thought, whose goal is for all Muslim countries to unify as an Islamic state or caliphate ruled by Islamic law and with a caliph...
, the Islamic Tendency Movement, the Tunisian Communist Party
Tunisian Communist Party
Tunisian Communist Party was a political party in Tunisia. PCT was founded in 1934, as the Tunisian Federation of the French Communist Party was converted into an independent organization. The party was banned by the Vichy regime in 1939, but in 1943 the party was able to operate legally again. It...
, the Movement for Popular Unity and student groups weakening its influence. On November 7, 1987, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, the Prime Minister at the time, became president after Bourguiba was declared medically unfit for office. The following year, President Ben Ali instituted economic reforms increasing economic privatization and renamed the party the Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD).
On 6 February 2011, the Ministry of Interior banned all meetings and activities of the party, and requested the courts to dissolve it. This happened on 9 March, when a court in Tunis announced the dissolution of the former ruling party and the liquidation of its assets and funds, although the party said it would appeal the decision.
Leaders
- Habib BourguibaHabib BourguibaHabib Bourguiba was a Tunisian statesman, the Founder and the first President of the Republic of Tunisia from July 25, 1957 until 7 November 1987...
(1934-1987) (Leader of Neo Destour Party: 1934-1964; Leader of Socialist Destourian Party: 1964-1987) - Zine El Abidine Ben AliZine El Abidine Ben AliZine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was...
(1987-2011) (Leader of Neo Destour Party: 1987-1988) - Mohamed GhannouchiMohamed GhannouchiMohamed 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...
(2011)
Presidential Elections
| Election date | Party candidate | Number of votes received | Percentage of votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 Tunisian general election, 1989 General elections were held in Tunisia on 2 April 1989. It was the first time presidential elections had been held since 1974, as Habib Bourguiba had been declared President-for-life the following year. However, his replacement, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, was the only candidate, and was re-elected... |
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was... |
2,087,028 | 100% |
| 1994 Tunisian general election, 1994 General elections were held in Tunisia on 20 March 1994 to elect a President and Chamber of Deputies. In the presidential election, incumbent Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was re-elected unopposed for a second five-year term, whilst in the Chamber election his Constitutional Democratic Rally won 144 of... |
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was... |
2,987,375 | 100% |
| 1999 Tunisian general election, 1999 General elections were held in Tunisia on 24 October 1999 to elect a President and Chamber of Deputies. For the first time ever there was more than one candidate in the presidential election. However, the result was a victory for incumbent Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who reportedly won 99.4% of the... |
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was... |
3,269,067 | 99.4% |
| 2004 Tunisian general election, 2004 General elections were held in Tunisia on 24 October 2004 to elect a President and Chamber of Deputies. In the presidential election, incumbent Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, was re-elected for a fourth five-year term with 94.49% of the vote. In the Chamber of Deputies elections his Constitutional... |
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was... |
4,204,292 | 94.4% |
| 2009 Tunisian general election, 2009 Presidential and parliamentary elections were held in Tunisia on 25 October 2009. Results released on 26 October 2009 indicated a substantial victory for incumbent President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who won the reelection for a fifth five-year term, and the governing Constitutional Democratic Rally... |
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was... |
4,238,711 | 89.6% |
Parliamentary Elections
| Election date | Party leader | Number of votes received | Percentage of votes | Number of deputies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 Tunisian general election, 1989 General elections were held in Tunisia on 2 April 1989. It was the first time presidential elections had been held since 1974, as Habib Bourguiba had been declared President-for-life the following year. However, his replacement, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, was the only candidate, and was re-elected... |
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was... |
1,633,004 | 80.6% | 141 |
| 1994 Tunisian general election, 1994 General elections were held in Tunisia on 20 March 1994 to elect a President and Chamber of Deputies. In the presidential election, incumbent Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was re-elected unopposed for a second five-year term, whilst in the Chamber election his Constitutional Democratic Rally won 144 of... |
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was... |
2,768,667 | 97.7% | 144 |
| 1999 Tunisian general election, 1999 General elections were held in Tunisia on 24 October 1999 to elect a President and Chamber of Deputies. For the first time ever there was more than one candidate in the presidential election. However, the result was a victory for incumbent Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who reportedly won 99.4% of the... |
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was... |
Unknown | Unknown | 148 |
| 2004 Tunisian general election, 2004 General elections were held in Tunisia on 24 October 2004 to elect a President and Chamber of Deputies. In the presidential election, incumbent Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, was re-elected for a fourth five-year term with 94.49% of the vote. In the Chamber of Deputies elections his Constitutional... |
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was... |
3,678,645 | 87.5% | 152 |
| 2009 Tunisian general election, 2009 Presidential and parliamentary elections were held in Tunisia on 25 October 2009. Results released on 26 October 2009 indicated a substantial victory for incumbent President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who won the reelection for a fifth five-year term, and the governing Constitutional Democratic Rally... |
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was... |
3,754,559 | 84.5% | 161 |