Hédi Baccouche

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Hédi Baccouche (15 January 1930 – 21 January 2020) was a Tunisian politician who served as prime minister from 7 November 1987 to 27 September 1989. He led the Socialist Destourian Party, which became the Constitutional Democratic Rally in 1988. Born in Hammam Sousse, he studied in France in the 1950s and was active in the Tunisian student movement. In the 1960s he held several government roles, including mayor of Hammam Sousse (1960–1964) and governor of various regions. He later worked as CEO of the National Fisheries Office and adviser to Prime Minister Hédi Nouira. After a period abroad, he served as ambassador to several countries. In 1987 he became Minister of Social Affairs and soon after was named prime minister, replacing Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, and also became secretary general of the PSD. He is seen as a key figure in a so‑called “medical coup” that moved power from Bourguiba to Ben Ali. He left the prime ministership in 1989 and later served in the Chamber of Advisers (appointed in 2005) until the ruling party was dissolved in 2011. Baccouche died in Hammam Sousse six days after his 90th birthday.