List of prime ministers of Tunisia

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The prime minister of Tunisia was the head of government of Tunisia from the creation of the office in 1759 until its abolition in 1957 with the proclamation of the republic. The office was revived in 1969 under the Republican system. There have been 44 prime ministers of Tunisia since the office came into existence in 1759.

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The office existed before independence as the Monarch appoint a prime minister to be the head of government. Rejeb Khaznadar was the first prime minister in the history of Tunisia in 1759.

After the abolition of monarchy, the 1959 Constitution of Tunisia established a presidential system where the president was both the head of state and the head of government. In November 1969, President Habib Bourguiba brought back the position by appointing Bahi Ladgham to be the first prime minister under the republican system.

Before the 2011 revolution, the role of the prime minister was limited to assisting the president. With the adoption of the new constitution in 2014, the constitutional powers expanded, making the prime minister responsible of major domestic policies.

The youngest person to become prime minister was Mustapha Ben Ismail in 1878 at 28 years of age while the oldest was Beji Caid Essebsi in 2011 at 85 years of age. The term of Mohammed Aziz Bouattour (1882–1907) is the longest for a prime minister, with a period of nearly 25 years, while Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's term (1987) is the shortest with 36 days.

Three prime ministers became presidents afterwards: Habib Bourguiba, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and Beji Caid Essebsi.

There are currently eleven living former prime ministers. The most recent former prime minister to die is Rachid Sfar on 20 July 2023.

List of prime ministers

Monarchy

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePartyElection Monarch
(Bey / King)
1 Coat of arms of the Beylik of Tunis.svg Rejeb Khaznadar
رجب خزندار
(c. 1720–1797)
12 February 175926 May 1782  Independent None Ali II
علي الثاني
No image.png
(1759–1782)
2 Coat of arms of the Beylik of Tunis.svg Moustapha Khodja
مصطفى خوجة
(c. 1720–1800)
26 May 17821800  Independent Hammouda I
حمودة الأول
No image.png
(1782–1814)
3 Coat of arms of the Beylik of Tunis.svg Youssef Saheb Ettabaa
يوسف صاحب الطابع
(c. 1765–1815)
180023 January 1815  Independent Othman I
عثمان الأول
No image.png
(1814)
4 Coat of arms of the Beylik of Tunis.svg Mohamed Larbi Zarrouk Khaznadar
محمد العربي زروق خزندار
(1760–1822)
18151822  Independent Mahmoud I
محمود الأول
No image.png
(1814–1824)
5 Coat of arms of the Beylik of Tunis.svg Hussein Khodja
حسين خوجة
(c.1780–1857)
18221829  Independent Hussein II
حسين الثاني
No image.png
(1824–1835)
6 Coat of arms of the Beylik of Tunis.svg Shakir Saheb Ettabaa
شاكير صاحب الطابع
(c. 1790–1837)
18291837  Independent Mustafa I
مصطفى الأول

(1835–1837)
7 Moustapha Saheb Ettabaa.jpg Mustapha Saheb Ettabaa
مصطفى صاحب الطابع
(1784–1861)
18371855  Independent Ahmad I
أحمد الأول
10.Ahmed I Bey (1837-1855).jpg
(1837–1855)
8 Mustapha Khaznadar 1846.jpg Mustapha Khaznadar
مصطفى خزندار
(1817–1878)
185522 October 1873  Independent Muhammad II
محمد الثاني
Mohammed Bey.jpg
(1855–1859)
9 Kheireddine Pacha high.JPG Hayreddin Pasha
خير الدين باشا التونسي
(1822–1890)
22 October 187321 July 1877  Independent Muhammad III as-Sadiq
محمد الثالث الصادق
Sadok Bey.jpg
(1859–1882)
10 Coat of arms of the Beylik of Tunis.svg Mohammed Khaznadar
محمد خزندار
(c. 1810–1889)
21 July 187724 August 1878  Independent
11 Coat of arms of the Beylik of Tunis.svg Mustapha Ben Ismaïl
مصطفى بن اسماعيل
(c. 1850–1887)
24 August 187812 September 1881  Independent
(10) Coat of arms of the Beylik of Tunis.svg Mohammed Khaznadar
محمد خزندار
(c. 1810–1889)
12 September 1881October 1882  Independent
12 Mohamed Aziz Bouattour.jpg Mohammed Aziz Bouattour
محمد العزيز بوعتور
(1825–1907)
October 18824 February 1907  Independent Ali III
علي الثالث
COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Portret van Ali Bey van Tunis TMnr 60028247.jpg
(1882–1902)
Muhammad IV al-Hadi
محمد الرابع الهادي
Muhammad IV al-Hadi (1905).jpg
(1902–1906)
13 Coat of arms of the Beylik of Tunis.svg M'hamed Djellouli
امحمّد جلولي
(1834–1908)
18 February 1907June 1908 [a]   Independent Muhammad V an-Nasir
محمد الخامس الناصر
Naceur Bey.jpg
(1906–1922)
14 Coat of arms of the Beylik of Tunis.svg Youssef Djaït
يوسف جعيط
(1830–1915)
June 1908June 1915  Independent
15 Mohamed Taieb Djellouli.jpg Taïeb Djellouli
الطيب جلولي
(1857–1944)
October 1915May 1922  Independent
16 Mustapha dinguizli.jpg Mustapha Dinguizli
مصطفى الدنقزلي
(1865–1926)
May 192220 October 1926 [a]   Independent Muhammad VI al-Habib
محمد السادس الحبيب
Le bey de Tunis Mohamed el Habib - btv1b53119766q.jpg
(1922–1929)
17 Khalil Bouhageb.png Khelil Bouhageb
خليل بوحاجب
(1863–1942)
3 November 19262 March 1932  Independent
18 Portrait of Hedi lakhoua by Hedi khayachi.jpg Hédi Lakhoua
الهادي الأخوة
(1872–1949)
2 March 193231 December 1942  Independent Ahmad II
أحمد الثاني
Ahmed Ben Gallini.JPG
(1929–1942)
19 M'hamed Chenik.jpg Mohamed Chenik
محمد شنيق
(1889–1976)
1 1 January 194315 May 1943  Destour Muhammad VII al-Munsif
محمد السابع المنصف
Moncef bey.jpg
(1942–1943)
20 Slaheddine Baccouche.jpg Slaheddine Baccouche
صلاح الدين البكوش
(1883–1959)
1 15 May 194321 July 1947  Independent Muhammad VIII al-Amin
محمد الثامن الأمين
Mohamed Lamine Bey.jpg
(1943–1957)
21 Mustapha Kaak.jpg Mustapha Kaak
مصطفى الكعاك
(1893–1984)
21 July 194717 August 1950  Independent
(19) M'hamed Chenik.jpg Mohamed Chenik
محمد شنيق
(1889–1976)
2 17 August 195026 March 1952  Destour
(20) Slaheddine Baccouche.jpg Slaheddine Baccouche
صلاح الدين البكوش
(1883–1959)
2 12 April 19522 March 1954  Independent
22 Ms mzali.jpg Mohamed Salah Mzali
محمد صالح مزالي
(1896–1984)
2 March 19546 July 1954  Independent
Office vacant (6 July 1954 – 7 August 1954)
Secretary general of the government Georges Dupoizat was in charge of its affairs
23 Tahar Ben Ammar.jpg Tahar Ben Ammar
الطاهر بن عمار
(1889–1985)
7 August 195411 April 1956  Destour None
24 Bourguiba portrait (cropped).JPG Habib Bourguiba
الحبيب بورقيبة
(1903–2000)
11 April 195625 July 1957 [b]   Neo Destour 1956

Republic

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePartyElection President
Office vacant (25 July 1957 – 7 November 1969)
Presidential system: The president directs the government (Bourguiba government)
1959
1964
Habib Bourguiba
الحبيب بورقيبة
Bourguiba portrait (cropped).JPG
(1957–1987)
25 Bahi Ladgham.jpg Bahi Ladgham
الباهي الأدغم
(1913–1998)
7 November 19692 November 1970  SDP 1969
26 Hedi nouira cropped.jpg Hédi Nouira
الهادي نويرة
(1911–1993)
2 November 197023 April 1980  SDP 1974
1979
27 Mohamed mzali.jpg Mohammed Mzali
محمد مزالي
(1925–2010)
23 April 19808 July 1986  SDP 1981
28 RACHID SFAR ancien Premier Ministre Tunisien.jpg Rachid Sfar
رشيد صفر
(1933–2023)
8 July 19862 October 1987  SDP 1986
29 Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (cropped).jpg Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
زين العابدين بن علي
(1936–2019)
2 October 19877 November 1987  SDP
30 Baccouche.jpg Hédi Baccouche
الهادي البكوش
(1930–2020)
1
2
3
7 November 198727 September 1989  DCR Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
زين العابدين بن علي
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (cropped).jpg
(1987–2011)
31 Hamed Karoui 1970 (cropped).jpg Hamed Karoui
حامد القروي
(1927–2020)
27 September 198917 November 1999  DCR 1989
1994
32 Mohamed Ghannouchi cropped.jpg Mohamed Ghannouchi
محمد الغنوشي
(b. 1941)
1
2
17 November 199927 February 2011  DCR 1999
2004
2009
33 Beji Caid el Sebsi at the 37th G8 Summit in Deauville 006.jpg Beji Caid Essebsi
الباجي قائد السبسي
(1926–2019)
27 February 201124 December 2011  Independent None Fouad Mebazaa
فؤاد المبزع
Fouad Mebazaa.jpg
(2011)
34 Hamadi Jebali - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012-1 (cropped).jpg Hamadi Jebali
حمادي الجبالي
(b. 1949)
24 December 201114 March 2013  Ennahda 2011 Moncef Marzouki
المنصف المرزوقي
Moncef Marzouki2.jpg
(2011–2014)
35 Ali Larayedh 2014.jpg Ali Laarayedh
علي العريض
(b. 1955)
14 March 201329 January 2014  Ennahda
36 2013 Planete PME CGPME Mehdi Jomaa.JPG Mehdi Jomaa
مهدي جمعة
(b. 1962)
29 January 20146 February 2015  Independent
37 HabibEssid.jpg Habib Essid
الحبيب الصيد
(b. 1949)
6 February 201527 August 2016  Independent 2014 Beji Caid Essebsi
الباجي قائد السبسي
Beji Caid el Sebsi at the 37th G8 Summit in Deauville 006.jpg
(2014–2019)
38 Youssef Chahed.jpg Youssef Chahed
يوسف الشاهد
(b. 1975)
27 August 201627 February 2020  Nidaa Tounes
  Tahya Tounes Mohamed Ennaceur
محمد الناصر
Mohamed Ennaceur.jpg
(2019)
39 Mr. Elyes Fakhfakh.jpg Elyes Fakhfakh
إلياس الفخفاخ
(b. 1972)
27 February 20202 September 2020  Ettakatol [1] 2019 Kais Saied
قيس سعيد
Kais Saied 2023.jpg
(2019–)
40 Hichem Mechichi.jpg Hichem Mechichi
هشام المشيشي
(b. 1974)
2 September 202025 July 2021  Independent
Office vacant (25 July 2021 – 11 October 2021)
The president directed the government temporarily after political crisis
41 Najla Bouden Romadhane - 2023 - P061638-101685 (cropped).jpg Najla Bouden
نجلاء بودن
(b. 1958)
11 October 20211 August 2023  Independent 2023
42 Ahmed Hachani (cropped).jpg Ahmed Hachani
أحمد الحشاني
(b. 1956)
1 August 20237 August 2024  Independent
43 Coat of arms of Tunisia.svg Kamel Madouri
كمال المدوري
(b. 1974)
7 August 202421 March 2025  Independent
44 Coat of arms of Tunisia.svg Sara Zaafarani
سارة زعفراني
(b. 1963)
21 March 2025Incumbent  Independent

Statistics

Timeline

Sara ZaafaraniKamel MadouriAhmed HachaniNajla BoudenHichem MechichiElyes FakhfakhYoussef ChahedHabib EssidMehdi JomaaAli LaarayedhHamadi JebaliBeji Caid EssebsiMohamed GhannouchiHamed KarouiHédi BaccoucheZine El Abidine Ben AliRachid SfarMohammed MzaliHédi NouiraBahi LadghamHabib BourguibaTahar Ben AmmarMohamed Salah MzaliMustapha KaakSlaheddine BaccoucheMohamed ChenikHédi LakhouaKhelil BouhagebMustapha DinguizliTaïeb DjellouliYoussef DjaïtM'hamed DjellouliMohammed Aziz BouattourMustapha Ben IsmailMohammed KhaznadarKheireddine PachaMustapha KhaznadarMustapha Saheb EttabaaRashid al-Shakir Sahib al-Taba'aHussein KhodjaMohamed Larbi Zarrouk KhaznadarYoussef Saheb EttabaaMoustapha KhodjaRejeb KhaznadarList of prime ministers of Tunisia

Rank by time in office

Mohamed Aziz Bouattour.jpg
Mohammed Aziz Bouattour
Longest term:
24 years, 98 days
1882–1907
Ms mzali.jpg
Mohamed Salah Mzali
Shortest term:
126 days
1954
RankPrime MinisterTime in office
1 Mohammed Aziz Bouattour 24 years, 98 days
2 Rejeb Khaznadar 23 years, 103 days
3 Mustapha Khaznadar 18 years, 294 days
4 Mustapha Saheb Ettabaa 18 years, 0 days
5 Moustapha Khodja 17 years, 220 days
6 Youssef Saheb Ettabaa 15 years, 22 days
7 Hédi Lakhoua 10 years, 304 days
8 Shakir Saheb Ettabaa 8 years, 0 days
9 Youssef Djaït 7 years, 122 days
9 Larbi Zarrouk Khaznadar 7 years, 0 days
11 Hussein Khodja 7 years, 0 days
12 Taïeb Djellouli 6 years, 212 days
13 Khelil Bouhageb 5 years, 120 days
14 Slaheddine Baccouche 5 years, 26 days [c]
15 Mustapha Dinguizli 4 years, 172 days
16 Kheireddine Pacha 3 years, 272 days
17 Mustapha Kaak 3 years, 27 days
18 Mustapha Ben Ismail 3 years, 19 days
19 Mohammed Khaznadar 2 years, 53 days [c]
20 Mohamed Chenik 1 years, 356 days [c]
21 Tahar Ben Ammar 1 year, 248 days
22 Habib Bourguiba 1 year, 105 days
23 M'hamed Djellouli 1 year, 104 days
24 Mohamed Salah Mzali 126 days

Republic

Timeline

Sara ZaafaraniKamel MadouriAhmed HachaniNajla BoudenHichem MechichiElyes FakhfakhYoussef ChahedHabib EssidMehdi JomaaAli LaarayedhHamadi JebaliBeji Caid EssebsiMohamed GhannouchiHamed KarouiHédi BaccoucheZine El Abidine Ben AliRachid SfarMohammed MzaliHédi NouiraBahi LadghamHabib BourguibaList of prime ministers of Tunisia

Rank by time in office

Mohamed Ghannouchi.jpg
Mohamed Ghannouchi
Longest term:
11 years, 102 days
1999–2011
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali cropped.jpg
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Shortest term:
36 days
1987
RankPrime MinisterTime in office
1 Mohamed Ghannouchi 11 years, 102 days
2 Hamed Karoui 10 years, 51 days
3 Hedi Nouira 9 years, 173 days
4 Mohamed Mzali 6 years, 76 days
5 Youssef Chahed 3 years, 184 days
6 Hedi Baccouche 1 year, 324 days
7 Najla Bouden 1 year, 294 days
8 Habib Essid 1 year, 203 days
9 Rachid Sfar 1 year, 86 days
10 Hamadi Jebali 1 year, 80 days
11 Mehdi Jomaa 1 year, 8 days
12 Ahmed Hachani 1 year, 6 days
13 Bahi Ladgham 360 days
14 Hichem Mechichi 326 days
15 Ali Laarayedh 321 days
16 Beji Caid Essebsi 300 days
17 Kamel Madouri 226 days
18 Elyes Fakhfakh 188 days
19 Sara Zaafarani 157 days
20 Zine El Abidine Ben Ali 36 days

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Died in office.
  2. Parliament voted to abolish the monarchy and appoint him as president.
  3. 1 2 3 Two separate terms.

References

  1. "Tunisie : La garde rapprochée d'Elyes Fakhfakh, chargé de former le prochain gouvernement – Jeune Afrique". 14 February 2020.