Neo Destour
Encyclopedia
The New Constitutional Liberal Party , most commonly known as Neo Destour, was a Tunisia
n political party
that was founded by a group of nationalist politicians during the French protectorate
.
party in 1934. Several leaders were particularly prominent during the party's early years before World War II: Habib Bourguiba
, Mahmud Materi, Tahar Sfar, Bahri Guiga, and Salah ben Youssef.
Prior to the split, a younger group of Destour members had alarmed the party elders by appealing directly to the populace through their more radical newspaper L'Action Tunisienne. The younger group, many from the provinces, seemed more in tune with a wider spectrum of the Tunisian people, while the elders represented a more established constituency in the capital city of Tunis
; yet both groups were proponents of change, either autonomy or independence. The rupture came at the Destour party congress of 1934.
Eventually the Neo Destour led the Tunisian independence
struggle after the tumultuous period during World War II. A significant split occurred in the struggle's final year. Salah ben Yusuf challenged Habib Bourguiba over his gradualist tactics during autonomy
talks in April, 1955. Ben Yusuf was expelled from the party that October; in November he mounted a large street demonstration to no avail. Ben Yusuf then left for Egypt. Independence from France was negotiated largely by the Neo Destour, effective March, 1956. The next year the Republic replaced the Beylical form of government. Tunisia became a one party state, with Neo Destour as the ruling party under Prime Minister and then President Habib Bourguiba.
Later the Neo Destour party was renamed the Parti Socialiste Destourien
(PSD in its French acronym), during the socialist phase of political-economic development which commenced in 1964 under President Bourguiba.
In 1988, under President Ben Ali
, the party was again renamed, to become the Rassemblement Constitutionel Démocratique
(RCD). The RCD continued as the Tunisian ruling party until 2011 under President Ben Ali and became increasing dictatorial, before being abolished as part of the Arab Spring
.
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
that was founded by a group of nationalist politicians during the French protectorate
History of French era Tunisia
The History of French-era Tunisia commenced in 1881 with the French protectorate and ended in 1956 with Tunisian independence. The French presence in Tunisia came five decades after their occupation of neighboring Algeria. Both of these lands had been possessions of the Ottoman Empire for three...
.
History
The party was formed as a result of a split from the pre-existing DestourDestour
The Constitutional Liberal Party , most commonly known as Destour, was a Tunisian political party, founded in 1920, which had as its the goal to liberate Tunisia from French colonial control....
party in 1934. Several leaders were particularly prominent during the party's early years before World War II: Habib Bourguiba
Habib Bourguiba
Habib Bourguiba was a Tunisian statesman, the Founder and the first President of the Republic of Tunisia from July 25, 1957 until 7 November 1987...
, Mahmud Materi, Tahar Sfar, Bahri Guiga, and Salah ben Youssef.
Prior to the split, a younger group of Destour members had alarmed the party elders by appealing directly to the populace through their more radical newspaper L'Action Tunisienne. The younger group, many from the provinces, seemed more in tune with a wider spectrum of the Tunisian people, while the elders represented a more established constituency in the capital city of Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
; yet both groups were proponents of change, either autonomy or independence. The rupture came at the Destour party congress of 1934.
Eventually the Neo Destour led the Tunisian independence
History of modern Tunisia
In its modern history, Tunisia has become a sovereign republic, called the al-Jumhuriyyah at-Tunisiyyah. Tunisia has over ten million citizens, almost all of Arab-Berber descent. The Mediterranean Sea is to the north and east, Libya to the southeast, and Algeria to the west. Tunis is the capital...
struggle after the tumultuous period during World War II. A significant split occurred in the struggle's final year. Salah ben Yusuf challenged Habib Bourguiba over his gradualist tactics during autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
talks in April, 1955. Ben Yusuf was expelled from the party that October; in November he mounted a large street demonstration to no avail. Ben Yusuf then left for Egypt. Independence from France was negotiated largely by the Neo Destour, effective March, 1956. The next year the Republic replaced the Beylical form of government. Tunisia became a one party state, with Neo Destour as the ruling party under Prime Minister and then President Habib Bourguiba.
Later the Neo Destour party was renamed the Parti Socialiste Destourien
Socialist Destourian Party
The Socialist Destourian Party was the ruling political party of Tunisia from 1964 to 1988. Bahi Ladgham was the first Prime Minister from the party and Hédi Baccouche was the last. It was founded on October 22, 1964 and disbanded on February 27, 1988. Habib Bourgiba was the first president of the...
(PSD in its French acronym), during the socialist phase of political-economic development which commenced in 1964 under President Bourguiba.
In 1988, under President Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is a Tunisian political figure who was the second President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. Ben Ali was appointed Prime Minister in October 1987, and he assumed the Presidency on 7 November 1987 in a bloodless coup d'état that ousted President Habib Bourguiba, who was...
, the party was again renamed, to become the Rassemblement Constitutionel Démocratique
Constitutional Democratic Rally
The Constitutional Democratic Rally , also referred to by its French acronym RCD, formerly called Neo Destour then Socialist Destourian Party, was the governing party in Tunisia. The party was suspended by the minister of interior on February 6th awaiting a decision on its dissolution by judicial...
(RCD). The RCD continued as the Tunisian ruling party until 2011 under President Ben Ali and became increasing dictatorial, before being abolished as part of the Arab Spring
Arab Spring
The Arab Spring , otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Saturday, 18 December 2010...
.
Presidential Elections
| Election date | Party candidate | Number of votes received | Percentage of votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 Tunisian general election, 1959 General elections were held in Tunisia on 8 November 1959 to elect a President and Chamber of Deputies, following the promulgation of a new constitution on 1 June. In the presidential election, incumbent Habib Bourguiba, was the only candidate, and was re-elected unopposed... |
Habib Bourguiba Habib Bourguiba Habib Bourguiba was a Tunisian statesman, the Founder and the first President of the Republic of Tunisia from July 25, 1957 until 7 November 1987... |
Unknown | 100% |
Parliamentary Elections
| Election date | Party leader | Number of votes received | Percentage of votes | Number of deputies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 Tunisian Constituent Assembly election, 1956 Constituent Assembly elections were held in Tunisia on 25 April 1956, five days after independence. The result was a victory for the National Union, an alliance of the Neo Destour party, the Tunisian General Labour Union, the National Union of Tunisian Farmers and the Tunisian Union of Craftsmen... |
Habib Bourguiba Habib Bourguiba Habib Bourguiba was a Tunisian statesman, the Founder and the first President of the Republic of Tunisia from July 25, 1957 until 7 November 1987... |
597,763 | 98.7% | 98 |
| 1959 Tunisian general election, 1959 General elections were held in Tunisia on 8 November 1959 to elect a President and Chamber of Deputies, following the promulgation of a new constitution on 1 June. In the presidential election, incumbent Habib Bourguiba, was the only candidate, and was re-elected unopposed... |
Habib Bourguiba Habib Bourguiba Habib Bourguiba was a Tunisian statesman, the Founder and the first President of the Republic of Tunisia from July 25, 1957 until 7 November 1987... |
1,002,298 | 99.7% | 90 |
See also
- DestourDestourThe Constitutional Liberal Party , most commonly known as Destour, was a Tunisian political party, founded in 1920, which had as its the goal to liberate Tunisia from French colonial control....
- Neo Destour
- Parti Socialiste DestourianSocialist Destourian PartyThe Socialist Destourian Party was the ruling political party of Tunisia from 1964 to 1988. Bahi Ladgham was the first Prime Minister from the party and Hédi Baccouche was the last. It was founded on October 22, 1964 and disbanded on February 27, 1988. Habib Bourgiba was the first president of the...
(PSD) - Rassemblement Constitutionel DémocratiqueConstitutional Democratic RallyThe Constitutional Democratic Rally , also referred to by its French acronym RCD, formerly called Neo Destour then Socialist Destourian Party, was the governing party in Tunisia. The party was suspended by the minister of interior on February 6th awaiting a decision on its dissolution by judicial...
(RCD)