Zine El Abidine Ben Ali

Prime Minister Ben Ali removed President Habib Bourguiba from office after doctors declared him unfit to rule. The coup was bloodless and initially welcomed as a way to end Bourguiba's increasingly erratic rule.

Ben Ali was elected president with 99.27% of the vote in an election where he was the only candidate. His rule was characterized by political repression, economic growth, and a facade of democracy.

After weeks of mass protests triggered by Mohamed Bouazizi's self-immolation, Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia. His ouster marked the first successful uprising of the Arab Spring, inspiring protests across the Middle East and North Africa.

A Tunisian court convicted Ben Ali in absentia on charges of embezzlement and drug possession. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison and fined millions of dollars. The trial was part of efforts to hold the former regime accountable.