Rachid Sfar
Encyclopedia
Rachid Sfar, the former Prime Minister of Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba
, was born on September 11, 1933 at Mahdia
, the ancient Fatimite capital of Tunisia
. He is the son of the Destourian leader Tahar Sfar, an associate of Bouguiba and co-founder of the Neo-Destourian Tunisian Nationalist Party in 1934.
After completing his secondary studies at the lycée in the city of Sfax
, Rachid Sfar pursued advanced studies in humanities, law, and economic in Tunis
and in Paris
. In Paris, he studied at the Ecole Nationale des Impôts from 1958 to 1959.
In the newly independent Tunisia, Rachid Sfar assumed various administrative responsibilities, notably in the Ministry of Finances: Director general of Taxation, Director General of Economic and Financial Relations, Director General for the Control of Tobacconists, and Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance. In December 1977, Bourguiba called upon him to direct the Ministry of Industry of Mines and the Ministry of Energy. In 1980, he was director of the Ministry of Defense, in 1982 the Ministry of Public Health, and from 1984 to 1986 the Ministry for the Economy.
In July 1986, before the deterioration of the financial situation in the country, President Bourguiba discharged his Prime Minister Mohamed Mzali and tasked Rachid Sfar with implementing a structural adjustment plan as Prime Minister. Rachid Sfar re-established Tunisia's macro-economic equilibria by passing in the National Assembly the "Loi de finances complémentaire" (the supplemental finances law), by devaluing the dinar by 10%, and by obtaining support from the International Monetary Fund
and the World Bank
to rebuild currency reserves and re-establish credit.
President Habib Bourguiba fired Rachid Sfar on 3 October 1987. Bourguiba named his Interior Minister Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
as Sfar's replacement. On November 7, 1987, invoking a provision of the Tunisian Constitution, the aged and infirm President Habib Bourguiba was declared incapable of executing the duties of his office. He was succeeded by his Prime Minister, who took the oath of office the same day before an extraordinary meeting of the National Assembly.
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...
, was born on September 11, 1933 at Mahdia
Mahdia
Mahdia is a provincial centre north of Sfax. It is important for the associated fish-processing industry, as well as weaving. It is the capital of Mahdia Governorate.- History :...
, the ancient Fatimite capital of 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...
. He is the son of the Destourian leader Tahar Sfar, an associate of Bouguiba and co-founder of the Neo-Destourian Tunisian Nationalist Party in 1934.
After completing his secondary studies at the lycée in the city of Sfax
Sfax
Sfax is a city in Tunisia, located southeast of Tunis. The city, founded in AD 849 on the ruins of Taparura and Thaenae, is the capital of the Sfax Governorate , and a Mediterranean port. Sfax has population of 340,000...
, Rachid Sfar pursued advanced studies in humanities, law, and economic in Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
and in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In Paris, he studied at the Ecole Nationale des Impôts from 1958 to 1959.
In the newly independent Tunisia, Rachid Sfar assumed various administrative responsibilities, notably in the Ministry of Finances: Director general of Taxation, Director General of Economic and Financial Relations, Director General for the Control of Tobacconists, and Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance. In December 1977, Bourguiba called upon him to direct the Ministry of Industry of Mines and the Ministry of Energy. In 1980, he was director of the Ministry of Defense, in 1982 the Ministry of Public Health, and from 1984 to 1986 the Ministry for the Economy.
In July 1986, before the deterioration of the financial situation in the country, President Bourguiba discharged his Prime Minister Mohamed Mzali and tasked Rachid Sfar with implementing a structural adjustment plan as Prime Minister. Rachid Sfar re-established Tunisia's macro-economic equilibria by passing in the National Assembly the "Loi de finances complémentaire" (the supplemental finances law), by devaluing the dinar by 10%, and by obtaining support from the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
and the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
to rebuild currency reserves and re-establish credit.
President Habib Bourguiba fired Rachid Sfar on 3 October 1987. Bourguiba named his Interior Minister 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...
as Sfar's replacement. On November 7, 1987, invoking a provision of the Tunisian Constitution, the aged and infirm President Habib Bourguiba was declared incapable of executing the duties of his office. He was succeeded by his Prime Minister, who took the oath of office the same day before an extraordinary meeting of the National Assembly.