Fouad Mebazaa

Fouad Mebazaa (; 15 June 1933 – 23 April 2025) was a Tunisian politician who was the acting president of Tunisia from 15 January 2011 to 13 December 2011. from 1991 to 2011. He was elected as Secretary-General of the Marsa unit of Neo Destour in 1955 and President of its Montpellier unit in 1956. The next day, Fouad Mebazaa, as Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, was appointed acting President of the Republic by the Constitutional Council, in accordance with article 57 of the 1959 Constitution. He was then considered as a cacique of the fallen regime.

Ghannouchi, confirmed as prime minister, appointed a new government on 17 January, while Mebazaa left the Democratic Constitutional Rally the next day. He also stated that, given his role and his presidential function, he temporarily left the office of the Speaker of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People to his first vice-president Sahbi Karoui on 15 January 2011. Sahbi Karoui held the post in the interim with the first meeting having been on 4 February 2011.

On 19 January 2011, Mebazza announced in a speech that the security situation in the country was improving significantly and stabilizing; he also ensured that those responsible for the disturbances were unmasked and arrested. He said that he wanted to ensure that the government respects its commitments in complete disharmony with the past. The next day, five members of the government, including Kamel Morjane, Ridha Grira, Ahmed Friaa, Moncer Rouissi, and Zouheir M'Dhaffar resigned.

Mebazaa with Beji Caid Essebsi, Yadh Ben Achour and Latifa Lakhdar in Tunis on 13 October 2011.

Pending free elections, the Chamber of Advisors adopted on 9 February 2011 a law that allows the acting president to govern by decree-laws, two days after the vote of the Chamber of Deputies. On 27 February 2011 Ghannouchi resigned in favour of Beji Caid Essebsi, who formed a new government.

Mebazza announced, on 3 March 2011, the election of a Constituent Assembly to develop a new Constitution to replace that of 1959. He said in this regard during his speech:

"Political reform requires us to find a new constitutional basis that reflects the will of the people and benefits from popular legitimacy [...] The current Constitution no longer meets the ambitions of the people after the revolution and is overwhelmed by the circumstances, not to mention the vicissitudes that have affected it, because of the many amendments that have been made to it and which prevent real democratic life and constitute an obstacle to the organization of transparent elections and the establishment of a political climate in which each individual and each group can enjoy freedom and equality. "

Moncef Marzouki replaced him on 12 December 2011; Mebazaa announced the same day his intention to officially hand over presidential powers during a solemn ceremony. The next day, Mebazaa greeted Marzouki one last time at the Presidential Palace, before leaving by car for his personal residence in Tunis.

Death Mebazaa died on 23 April 2025, at the age of 91, after a long illness. He is buried in the Jellaz Cemetery, in Tunis.

Honours