From the French protectorate to a free republic
Habib Bourguiba was born in Monastir on August 3, 1903. He studied in France and settled in Tunis as a lawyer in 1927. In 1934 he founded the Neo Destur Party with the aim of making Tunisia an independent state. After a failed coup attempt in 1938, Bourguiba and some of his supporters were arrested and taken to France, where they remained in custody until 1942. In the meantime, the Second World War is raging.
Habib Bourguiba, who again fought for independence after the end of the war, was arrested a second time in 1950 and brought back to France. First of all, Prime Minister Mendes-France promised the country what is known as autonomy, but with the aim of achieving Tunisia's independence. On March 20, 1956, Habib Bourguiba becomes the country's first prime minister and Tunisia is declared a republic in the same year. Bourguiba is appointed president.
In 1961 Tunisia tried by force to clear the port city of Bizerte, which used to be a French naval base. But the Tunisian army is inferior to the French. It was only through political negotiations in October 1963 that the French were able to withdraw.
Habib Bourguiba has been managing and directing Tunisia for over 30 years, cultivating good trade relations and friendly relations with other countries. The older he gets, the more the question arises: "What will happen after him?"
On November 7, 1987, the popular head of state was deposed by the then incumbent Prime Minister according to an article in the Tunisian constitution. He is succeeded by Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled Tunisia dictatorially for 23 years.
In January 2011 the Jasmine Revolution against the regime takes place and the president fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14th.
