Fouad Mebazaa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fouad Mebazaa
فؤاد المبزع
Mebazaa in 2011
Acting President of Tunisia
In office 15 January 2011 – 13 December 2011
Prime Minister	Mohamed Ghannouchi Béji Caïd Essebsi
Preceded by	Mohamed Ghannouchi
Succeeded by	Moncef Marzouki
Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies
In office 14 October 1997 – 15 January 2011
President	Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Preceded by	Habib Boularès
Succeeded by	Sahbi Karoui (Acting)
Personal details
Born	(1933-06-15)15 June 1933 Tunis, French protectorate of Tunisia
Died	23 April 2025(2025-04-23) (aged 91) Tunis, Tunisia
Political party	Independent (2011–2025)
Other political affiliations	Constitutional Democratic Rally (before 2011)
Spouse	Lilia Mebazaa

Fouad Mebazaa (Arabic: فؤاد المبزع, romanized: Fuʾād el-Mbazaʿ) was an important Tunisian politician. He was born on June 15, 1933, and passed away on April 23, 2025. He served as the acting President of Tunisia from January 15, 2011, to December 13, 2011. Before becoming president, he held many important roles in the Tunisian government. He was a key figure in the country's journey to independence and its political life afterward.

Fouad Mebazaa's Journey in Politics

Early Life and Fight for Freedom

Fouad Mebazaa was born when Tunisia was under French rule. From a young age, he joined the "constitutional youth" movement in 1947. This group was part of the Neo Destour political party, which worked hard to help Tunisia gain its freedom from France.

He was chosen to be a member of the Neo Destour party in cities like Aix-en-Provence and Marseille in France. Later, he became the Secretary-General of the party's group in La Marsa, Tunisia, in 1955. In 1956, he led the party's group in Montpellier, France.

Serving Tunisia After Independence

After Tunisia became independent in 1956, Mebazaa continued his political career. He was elected to the Chamber of Deputies of Tunisia, which is like a parliament, many times starting in 1964.

He served as the Governor-Mayor of Tunis, the capital city, from 1969 to 1973. Throughout the 1970s and late 1980s, he held several important jobs as a government minister. These roles included Minister of Youth and Sports, Minister of Public Health, and Minister of Culture and Information. He also worked as an ambassador for Tunisia in Geneva and Morocco during the 1980s.

From 1988, Mebazaa was a member of the main committee of the Constitutional Democratic Rally party. He also served as the Mayor of Carthage from 1995 to 1998. In 1997, he was elected as the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, a position he was re-elected to in 2004.

Becoming Acting President in 2011

Mebazaa on the day he became acting president, January 15, 2011.

In January 2011, during a time of big changes in Tunisia known as the Tunisian Revolution, the president at the time, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, left the country. Because Fouad Mebazaa was the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, he was chosen to be the acting President of Tunisia on January 15, 2011. This was done according to the country's constitution.

After becoming acting president, Mebazaa left his political party, the Democratic Constitutional Rally. He also temporarily stepped down from his role as Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, letting his vice-president, Sahbi Karoui, take over.

On January 19, 2011, Mebazaa announced that the security situation in Tunisia was getting much better. He promised that those who caused trouble would be found and arrested. He also said that the new government would keep its promises and be different from the past. Soon after, some government members resigned.

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

To help the country move forward, a new law was passed on February 9, 2011. This law allowed the acting president to make new laws quickly. On February 27, 2011, the prime minister, Mohamed Ghannouchi, resigned, and Beji Caid Essebsi took his place and formed a new government.

On March 3, 2011, Mebazaa announced that a special group, called a Constituent Assembly, would be elected. This group's job would be to write a brand new constitution for Tunisia. He explained that the old constitution no longer fit the country's needs after the revolution and that a new one was needed for true democracy and fair elections.

Fouad Mebazaa's time as acting president ended on December 12, 2011, when Moncef Marzouki became the new president. Mebazaa officially handed over power to Marzouki at the Presidential Palace the next day, then left for his home in Tunis.

Later Life and Passing

Fouad Mebazaa passed away on April 23, 2025, at the age of 91, after a long illness. He was buried in the Jellaz Cemetery in Tunis.

Awards and Recognition

Fouad Mebazaa received many awards and honors from Tunisia and other countries for his long service. These awards recognized his contributions to his country.

Ribbon bar	Country	Honour
	Tunisia	Grand Cordon of the Order of the Independence
	Tunisia	Grand Cordon of the Order of the Republic
	Tunisia	Grand Cordon of the National Order of Merit
	Tunisia	Grand Cordon of the Order of the Seventh of November
	Morocco	Grand Officer of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite
	Mauritania	Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit
	France	Commander of the Legion of Honour
	Italy	Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

See also

In Spanish: Fouad Mebazaa para niños