Background
Ahmed Merstiri was born on July 2, 1925 Tunis, Tunisia.
Ahmed Merstiri was born on July 2, 1925 Tunis, Tunisia.
Educated at Tunis and graduated in Law at Algiers and Paris.
As a protege of the nationalist pioneer Mongi Slim he served as his Chef de Cabinet at the Ministry of the Interior in 1956. Promoted Secretary of State for Justice in July 1957, he worked hard to modernise the court system until he became Secretary of State for Finance and Commerce in December 1958.
After his election to the party’s Political Bureau in March 1959 he was switched to the Foreign Service as ambassador: Moscow 1960; Cairo 1961; Algiers 1962-6. Recalled to be Secretary of State for Defence in June 1966, he became immersed again in domestic politics, resulting in a bitter dispute. He opposed the collectivisation policy forcing small farmers into co-operatives. After an angry statement to the Press criticising the government he was expelled from the party on January 30, 1968.
Despite bitter criticism of Bourguiba including the accusation that he was no longer fit to run the country because of his health, Mestiri worked his way back into the President’s good graces and was able to rejoin the party on April 23, 1970.
Bourguiba brought him into the cabinet as Minister of the Interior in June 1970 but before long strains developed between him and Prime Minister Nouira. It caused a split in the party when Mestiri pushed hard to liberalise the power structure. Bourguiba dismissed him from the cabinet in September 1971 but kept the door open for a reconciliation even after Mestiri had appeared before a disciplinary committee of the party on December 9 and 25, 1971. Mestiri refused to compromise. He was accused of threatening the very existence of the party and seeking to "depart from legality”. On January 21, 1972, he was expelled from the party. He resumed his old profession as a lawyer.
Political firebrand who has twice challenged President Bourguiba from inside the administration and twice been expelled from the ruling Destourian Socialist Party. Widely supported as a vigorous advocate of the liberalisation and modernisation of the political system although his impulsiveness sometimes costs him dearly. A radical, often lacking patience with those unable to agree with his pace or pattern of reform, but always recognised as a man of conscience.
Joined Neo-Destour Party in 1943 and was an active underground worker until independence was achieved.
His law training enabled him to initiate significant changes in the legal system, bringing it up to date carefully without causing offence to Muslim leaders and phasing out the French tribunals. After six years of diplomacy as an ambassador he returned to the ups-and-downs of politics, vanishing again from the centre in January 1972 but determined to win his way back to power.