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Kais Saied

Kais Saied serves as the seventh president of Tunisia. A jurist and former law lecturer, he led the Tunisian Association of Constitutional Law from 1995 to 2019.

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KAIS SAIED

Kais Saied, born on February 22, 1958, in Béni Khiar, is the son of Moncef Saied and Zakia Bellagha. His family, although modest in origin, was intellectually inclined and part of the middle class. Saied's late father was known for his courageous act of protecting the young Tunisian Jewish lawyer Gisèle Halimi during World War II. After completing his secondary education at Sadiki College, Saied pursued a career in law, specializing in constitutional law. He served as the secretary-general of the Tunisian Association of Constitutional Law from 1990 to 1995 and later as its vice-president.

Saied was the director of the public law department at the University of Sousse from 1994 to 1999 and then at the Faculty of Juridical, Political and Social Sciences of Tunis at the University of Carthage from 1999 until his retirement in 2018. His expertise in constitutional matters was recognized as he contributed to the General Secretariat of the Arab League and the Arab Institute for Human Rights. Additionally, he played a role in revising the draft of the Tunisian Constitution in 2014.

In the years leading up to his presidency, Saied became increasingly involved in political discussions, particularly with the youth. The Mouassissoun movement was established in 2016 to support his initiatives. Saied emerged as a prominent candidate in the 2019 presidential election, appealing to younger voters and advocating for the right of citizens to recall elected officials. His campaign focused on addressing corruption and reinforcing respect for constitutional laws.

Saied's conservative stances on various issues, including gender equality in inheritance and his opposition to normalization with Israel, garnered attention. He characterized his vision for governance as a decentralization of power, prioritizing character over political ideology in the election of representatives. His approach resonated with a diverse audience, including both Islamists and leftists, though he maintained his independence from any specific ideological camp.

In the first round of the 2019 presidential election, Saied received a significant share of the votes, leading to a runoff against Nabil Karoui. He won the second round with 72.71% of the vote and was inaugurated on October 23, 2019, marking him as the first president born after Tunisia gained independence from France.

Saied initially chose to reside in his villa instead of the presidential palace, emphasizing a different approach to leadership. He appointed key members to his administration, including Tarek Bettaïeb as head of the presidential cabinet and General Mohamed Salah Hamdi as national security adviser. His presidency faced challenges, including the need to form a government amid political disagreements and delays.

On July 25, 2021, following widespread protests over government inefficiencies and the COVID-19 pandemic, Saied took decisive actions that included suspending parliament and relieving the prime minister of his duties. These actions were met with mixed reactions and were seen by some as a self-coup, as they appeared to violate constitutional procedures. Saied continued to consolidate power, extending parliament's suspension and ruling by decree while announcing plans for constitutional reforms and new elections.

In February 2023, his comments regarding African immigration sparked controversy, highlighting tensions surrounding demographic changes in Tunisia.


Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kais_Saied

GOVERNING TIME LINE

Kais Saied became President of Tunisia on October 23, 2019, after winning the election with a significant majority. A former constitutional law professor, he focused on anti-corruption and social justice. In July 2021, he suspended parliament and dismissed the prime minister, invoking Article 80 of the constitution amid political turmoil. Saied continues to serve as president, implementing controversial reforms to reshape Tunisia's political landscape.

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