Ahmed Mestiri
Ahmed Mestiri (rear RTL أحمدالمستيري), born the July 2nd 1925 with Marsa, is a lawyer and politician Tunisia N.
Youth
Mestiri is the son of Taher Mestiri and Khedija Kassar. Very young person, it integrates as of 1942 the cell Destour ienne of Marsa in company of Taïeb Mhiri. It carries out then studies of Droit to Algiers, of 1944 with 1948, then with the Institut of political studies of Paris and with the Faculty of Law of Paris where it obtains its license. Since 1948, he exerts the trade of lawyer at the court of Tunis.
Political career
Member of the destourienne federation of Tunis in 1950, it collaborates with Bahi Ladgham and Hédi Nouira in the Hebdomadaire Mission (French-speaking body of the Néo-Destour). In January 1952, he becomes member of the Néo-Destour and enters to the clandestine political office directed by Farhat Hached and Sadok Mokaddem. As a lawyer, it takes part in the defense of the nationalist militants continued by the French courts civil and military, which is worth to him to escape an attempted murder by the terrorist organization the red Hand. In August 1954, he becomes principal private secretary of Mongi Slim.In the first government formed by Habib Bourguiba, the April 14th 1956, Mestiri is seen entrusting the secretariat of State to the justice where it takes an active part in the tunisification of the legal apparatus, the drafting of the new laws and the development of the Code of the personal status. Little time afterwards, it represents Tunisia with the Safety advice of the United Nations following the conflict which has occurred with the France in the context of the Bombardement of Sakiet Sidi Youssef. The December 10th 1958, it is seen allotting the wallet of finances and the trade. Among its priorities at the time of its passage to finances appears the development of a series of free-Tunisian conventions and the creation of the new currency: the Tunisian Dinar.
In 1960, it is named Ambassadeur in the USSR then in United Arab Republic (1961) and in Algérie (1962). The June 24th 1966, it returns to Tunis to become Minister for defense. After having publicly expressed its dissension with the policy of reform of the agricultural and commercial structures impetus by Ahmed Ben Salah, it is excluded from Néo-Destour, is become the Socialist party destourien (PSD), the January 29th 1968.
It should await the ousting of Ben Salah to be reinstated, the April 23rd 1970, within the political office of the PSD. The June 12th, it is named Minister of Interior Department but it resigns the June 21st 1971 because the promises of political expansion made by the president Habib Bourguiba were not held. At the time of the congress of PSD held in October, he is elected at the central committee behind Ladgham. Vis-a-vis the threat of takeover of the party by the liberals, Bourguiba suspends Mestiri of any activity within the PSD then excludes it definitively the January 21st 1972. The July 20th 1973, it is excluded from the National Assembly where it sat since independence.
In June 1978, it founds the Mouvement of the socialist democrats (MDS) of which he becomes general secretary. In 1981, its party takes part in the first pluralist elections which shows the crushing victory of the PSD. In April 1986, it is arrested, imprisoned then put under house arrest following its participation in a demonstration. In 1989, it is voluntarily withdrawn from the general secretary of the MDS then puts an end to any political activity.
Private life
In 1956, he marries Souad Chenik, girl of the former Prime Minister Me hamed Chenik, which gives him 4 boys (Driss, Taher, Hatem and Moncef) and a girl (Saima).
External bond
- Documents on Ahmed Mestiri