Mohamed Ghannouchi
Encyclopedia
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
. Regarded as a technocrat, Ghannouchi has been a long-standing figure in the Tunisian government; he was Minister of Finance from 1989 to 1992, Minister of International Cooperation from 1992 to 1999, and Prime Minister of Tunisia
from 1999 to 2011.
on January 14 in the wake of the 2010–2011 Tunisian uprising.
In a 2006 diplomatic cable from the United States that was leaked by WikiLeaks
during the United States diplomatic cables leak
, Ghannouchi was described as being generally popular among the population of Tunisia. Ghannouchi was seen as a respected technocrat by US diplomats in early 2010, with a cable stating, "Prime Minister Ghannouchi, the respected, , pragmatic, and apolitical technocrat, has served in his post since 1999 and with his reappointment appears set to surpass longevity records for senior officials since Tunisia's independence in 1956. Tunis oddsmakers had expected Ghannouchi, reportedly tired after a decade on the job, to move on, but it appears Ben Ali has come to view him as indispensible." Passport, a blog by Foreign Policy
, gave a different view of Ghannouchi, saying he "is not necessarily any more popular than Ben Ali, though he's not nearly as tainted by the lurid tales of corruption and excess that so damaged the ruling family. But Tunisians certainly don't respect the prime minister; they call him 'Mr. Oui Oui' because he's always saying yes to Ben Ali".
, Ghannouchi announced that Ben Ali had called for parliamentary elections in six months, dismissed the government, and asked him to form a new government. During the evening, Ghannouchi announced that he was taking temporary control of the country on state television. Ghannouchi promised to begin discussing political and economic reforms the next day. Ghannouchi has said he will hold new elections within sixty days, as required by the Tunisian Constitution. On January 15, The Economist Online reported that some protesters were calling for Ghannouchi to step down. On that same day, it was announced that Congress
Speaker
Fouad Mebazaa
was taking the post of Acting President of Tunisia.
Al Jazeera
claimed that some lawyers disagreed with Ghannouchi's claim to power, interpreting the constitution
differently, in particular referring to Article 57.
Afterwards he resumed as Prime Minister and formed a new national unity government that included members of opposition parties, civil society representatives, and even a blog
ger, Slim Amamou
, who only a week previous had been imprisoned by the regime of the deposed President.
Ghannouchi resigned his membership of the RCD on 18 January. His resignation was followed by similar action by the other RCD members within the government; but on 27 January Ghannouchi carried out a major reshuffle of the government to remove all former RCD members other than himself.
After a new wave of protests, Ghannouchi resigned as PM on 27 February 2011.
|-
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...
and was self-proclaimed acting President
President of Tunisia
The President of Tunisia, formally known as the President of the Tunisian Republic is the head of state of Tunisia. Tunisia is a presidential republic in which the president is the head of the executive branch of government with the assistance of the Prime Minister of Tunisia, formally the head of...
of the country for a few hours starting 14 January 2011, under Article 56 of the Constitution of Tunisia
Constitution of Tunisia
The Constitution of Tunisia is the supreme law of the Tunisian Republic. The Constitution is the framework for the organization of the Tunisian government and for the relationship of the federal government with the governates, citizens, and all people within Tunisia...
. Regarded as a technocrat, Ghannouchi has been a long-standing figure in the Tunisian government; he was Minister of Finance from 1989 to 1992, Minister of International Cooperation from 1992 to 1999, and 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...
from 1999 to 2011.
Political career
Ghannouchi is a member of the Tunisian parliament for the Democratic Constitutional Rally. From 1992 to 1999, he was the Minister of International Co-operation and Foreign Investment, and from 1999 to 2011 he was the Prime Minister of Tunisia until the fall of Zine El Abidine Ben AliZine 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...
on January 14 in the wake of the 2010–2011 Tunisian uprising.
In a 2006 diplomatic cable from the United States that was leaked by WikiLeaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
during the United States diplomatic cables leak
United States diplomatic cables leak
The United States diplomatic cables leak, widely known as Cablegate, began in February 2010 when WikiLeaks—a non-profit organization that publishes submissions from anonymous whistleblowers—began releasing classified cables that had been sent to the U.S. State Department by 274 of its consulates,...
, Ghannouchi was described as being generally popular among the population of Tunisia. Ghannouchi was seen as a respected technocrat by US diplomats in early 2010, with a cable stating, "Prime Minister Ghannouchi, the respected, , pragmatic, and apolitical technocrat, has served in his post since 1999 and with his reappointment appears set to surpass longevity records for senior officials since Tunisia's independence in 1956. Tunis oddsmakers had expected Ghannouchi, reportedly tired after a decade on the job, to move on, but it appears Ben Ali has come to view him as indispensible." Passport, a blog by Foreign Policy
Foreign Policy
Foreign Policy is a bimonthly American magazine founded in 1970 by Samuel P. Huntington and Warren Demian Manshel.Originally, the magazine was a quarterly...
, gave a different view of Ghannouchi, saying he "is not necessarily any more popular than Ben Ali, though he's not nearly as tainted by the lurid tales of corruption and excess that so damaged the ruling family. But Tunisians certainly don't respect the prime minister; they call him 'Mr. Oui Oui' because he's always saying yes to Ben Ali".
Role following 2010–2011 Tunisian uprising
On January 14, 2011, before Ben Ali had fled the country during the Tunisian RevolutionTunisian 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...
, Ghannouchi announced that Ben Ali had called for parliamentary elections in six months, dismissed the government, and asked him to form a new government. During the evening, Ghannouchi announced that he was taking temporary control of the country on state television. Ghannouchi promised to begin discussing political and economic reforms the next day. Ghannouchi has said he will hold new elections within sixty days, as required by the Tunisian Constitution. On January 15, The Economist Online reported that some protesters were calling for Ghannouchi to step down. On that same day, it was announced that Congress
Parliament of Tunisia
The Parliament of Tunisia is made up of two houses:*The upper chamber, the Chamber of Councillors*The lower chamber, the Chamber of Deputies...
Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
Fouad Mebazaa
Fouad Mebazaa
Fouad Mebazaa is a Tunisian politician who has been President of Tunisia since 15 January 2011. He was active in Neo Destour prior to Tunisian independence, served as Minister of Youth and Sports, Minister of Public Health, and Minister of Culture and Information, and has been President of the...
was taking the post of Acting President of Tunisia.
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
claimed that some lawyers disagreed with Ghannouchi's claim to power, interpreting the constitution
Constitution of Tunisia
The Constitution of Tunisia is the supreme law of the Tunisian Republic. The Constitution is the framework for the organization of the Tunisian government and for the relationship of the federal government with the governates, citizens, and all people within Tunisia...
differently, in particular referring to Article 57.
Afterwards he resumed as Prime Minister and formed a new national unity government that included members of opposition parties, civil society representatives, and even a blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ger, Slim Amamou
Slim Amamou
Slim Amamou is a Tunisian blogger and the former Secretary of State for Sport and Youth , deputy to the Minister for Youth and Sports. He resigned on the week of May 25, 2011 in protest of the transitional government's block of several websites...
, who only a week previous had been imprisoned by the regime of the deposed President.
Ghannouchi resigned his membership of the RCD on 18 January. His resignation was followed by similar action by the other RCD members within the government; but on 27 January Ghannouchi carried out a major reshuffle of the government to remove all former RCD members other than himself.
After a new wave of protests, Ghannouchi resigned as PM on 27 February 2011.
Awards and honors
- Knight of the Order of Independence
- Grand Cordon of the Order of the Republic
- Grand Cordon of the Order of 7 November
External links
- Tunisian Government Official Website
- Transcript of Tunisian Prime Minister’s Announcement That He Has Assumed Power, The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, January 14, 2011
|-