Tunisia President Beji Caid Essebsi dead: First leader after Arab Spring revolution dies

Source: 
Express UK
Publication date: 
Jul 25 2019

BREAKING

Tunisia President Beji Caid Essebsi has died at the age of 92 (Image: EXPRESS)

Mr Essebsi’s son said on Wednesday the President had been taken to a military hospital - the second health crisis for the leader in a month. The Tunisian President had been taken to hospital last month and spent a week there after suffering a “severe health crisis. But he has only been seen in public twice since leaving there on July 1, sparking fears over his health.

Mr Essebi is regarded as a major player in Tunisia since the overthrow of veteran autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali and transition to democracy since 2011.

This was followed by uprisings against authoritarian leaders across the Middle East, including in nearby Libya and Egypt.

Parliamentary elections are expected to be held on October 6, with a presidential vote six weeks later on November 17.

They will be the third set of polls in which Tunisians can vote freely following the 2011 revolution

 

Mr Essebi is regarded as a major player in Tunisia since the overthrow of veteran autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali and transition to democracy since 2011.

This was followed by uprisings against authoritarian leaders across the Middle East, including in nearby Libya and Egypt.

Parliamentary elections are expected to be held on October 6, with a presidential vote six weeks later on November 17.

They will be the third set of polls in which Tunisians can vote freely following the 2011 revolution.