Moncef Marzouki
Mohamed Moncef Marzouki is a Tunisian politician, physician, and human rights activist who served as the fifth president of Tunisia from 2011 to 2014. He was elected by the Constituent Assembly on December 12, 2011, in the aftermath of the Tunisian revolution. Marzouki focused on promoting democracy and human rights during his presidency, working to stabilize the country following years of political upheaval.

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MONCEF MARZOUKI
Moncef Marzouki was born in Grombalia, Tunisia, to a family with a rich political background; his father was a Qadi who supported Salah Ben Youssef, an opponent of the country's founding leader, Habib Bourguiba. Due to political pressures, his father emigrated to Morocco in the late 1950s. Marzouki completed his secondary education in Tangier, earning his Baccalauréat in 1961. He then pursued medical studies at the University of Strasbourg in France. Upon his return to Tunisia in 1979, he established the Center for Community Medicine in Sousse and founded the African Network for Prevention of Child Abuse. He also became involved with the Tunisian League for Human Rights and was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's principles of non-violent resistance during his travels to India.
Marzouki's political activism intensified in the early 1990s when he publicly confronted President Ben Ali over the government's violent crackdown on the Islamist Ennahda Movement. He became a founding member of the National Committee for the Defense of Prisoners of Conscience in 1993 but resigned when the committee was overtaken by government supporters. Despite facing multiple arrests and accusations of spreading false information, he continued to advocate for human rights, founding the National Committee for Liberties and serving as President of the Arab Commission for Human Rights.
In 2001, he founded the Congress for the Republic party, which was banned in 2002. Despite the ban, Marzouki remained active from exile in France. Following the Tunisian revolution and the departure of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, he announced his return to Tunisia with plans to run for the presidency. On 12 December 2011, Marzouki was elected interim president by the Constituent Assembly with a substantial majority, marking a significant shift in Tunisia's political landscape as he was the first president not linked to the legacy of Bourguiba.
Shortly after assuming office, he appointed Hamadi Jebali of the Ennahda Movement as Prime Minister. During his presidency, Marzouki made notable contributions to Tunisia's political reform, including the establishment of the Truth and Dignity Commission and the lifting of the state of emergency that had persisted since the revolution. In April 2014, he demonstrated a commitment to addressing the country's financial challenges by cutting his own salary significantly.
Marzouki's presidency concluded in December 2014 when he was defeated by Beji Caid Essebsi in the presidential elections. Following his term, he remained politically active, participating in initiatives such as the Freedom Flotilla III aimed at delivering aid to Gaza. However, his post-presidency life has been tumultuous; he faced a series of legal challenges, including an international arrest warrant issued by the Tunisian government, which accused him of undermining state security. He was sentenced to prison in absentia on several occasions for actions deemed as threats to the government.
Throughout his life, Marzouki has maintained a focus on social justice and human rights, with a personal style that reflects his Tunisian heritage—he is known for preferring the traditional burnous over a suit and tie. He has two daughters from his first marriage, both of whom have pursued academic and professional achievements, and he married Beatrix Rhein, a French physician, in a private ceremony in 2011.
GOVERNING TIME LINE
Moncef Marzouki became Tunisia’s President on December 13, 2011, as its first democratically elected leader after the Tunisian Revolution. He focused on human rights and democratic reforms but faced political instability. Marzouki left office on December 31, 2014, after losing the presidential election to Beji Caid Essebsi.