March 20, 1956 – November 7, 1987
• March 20, 1956
— Proclamation of Tunisia’s Independence
• March 25, 1956
— Election of the Constitutive National Assembly
• April 8, 1956
— First session of the Constitutive National Assembly
— Election of Leader Habib Bourguiba president of the Constitutive National Assembly
• April 14, 1956
— Leader Habib Bourguiba is asked to form the first government after Independence
• April 18, 1956
— Tunisification of the Security Services
• June 21, 1956
— New administrative organization : governorates and delegations replace the « caïdats » and « khalifats »
• June 29, 1956
— Creation of the first nucleus of the Tunisian Army
• August 3, 1956
— Abolition of « Shari’a » tribunals
• August 13, 1956
— Promulgation of the Code of Personal Status — Tunisification of the Radio
• November 12, 1956
— Tunisia joins the United Nations Organization
• November 22, 1956
— Leader Habib Bourguiba delivers a speech before the UN General Assembly
• March 14, 1957
Women are granted the right to vote and to run as candidate in elections
• March 5, 1957
— First municipal elections
• July 25, 1957
— Abolition of the Beylical system — Proclamation of the Republic of Tunisia — Leader Habib Bourguiba elected, by an overwhelming majority, first President of the Republic of Tunisia
• September 27, 1957
— Abolition of rabbinical councils
• September 28, 1957
— Dismantling of «Arouch » lands
• February 8, 1958
— The French air force bombards Sakiet Sidi Youssef (68 dead and 87 injured ; 3/4 of the village destroyed).
• June 17, 1958
— Evacuation of French soldiers from the south of the country.
• September 19, 1958
— Creation of the Central Bank of Tunisia
• October 1, 1958
— Tunisia joins the League of Arab States
• October 8, 1958
— Tunisia is elected member of the UN Security Council
• October 18, 1958
— Creation of the national currency : the dinar
• November 4, 1958
— Promulgation of the law on education
• March 2, 1959
— 6th Congress of the « Neo-Destour » in Sousse (First congress after Independence)
• June 1, 1959
— Proclamation of the Constitution of the Republic of Tunisia
• August 20, 1959
— Dissolution of the Customs union with France
• November 8, 1959
— First presidential election (First term of office of President Habib Bourguiba) — Election of the first National Assembly
• March 31, 1960
— Creation of the Tunisian university
• May 15, 1960
— Municipal elections
• July 20, 1961 :
— Eruption of the « War for Evacuation » in Bizerte (670 martyrs, 1155 injured).
• August 21, 1961 :
— The UN General Assembly holds an extraordinary meeting to examine the question of Bizerte.
• September 20, 1961 :
— Tunisia is elected president of the UN General Assembly, in the person of his permanent representative Mr. Mongi Slim.
• May 30, 1962 :
— Adoption of the 1st Development Plan (1962-1964).
• 12, May 1963 :
— Municipal elections.
• October15, 1963 :
— Evacuation from Bizerte.
• May 12, 1964 :
— Nationalization of colonial lands.
• October 19, 1964 :
— 7th Congress of the « Neo-Destour » in Bizerte. — The « Neo-Destour » becomes the « Destourian Socialist Party » (PSD).
• November 8, 1964 :
— Presidential election (Second term of office of President Bourguiba). — Legislative elections.
•, February 15 – March 15, 1965 :
— President Bourguiba’s tour in the Middle-East.
• March 3, 1965 :
— President Bourguiba delivers a speech in Jericho, Palestine.
• May 21, 1965 :
— Suspension of the participation of Tunisia in the proceedings of the Arab League.
• May 29, 1965 :
— Adoption of the 2nd Development Plan (1965-1968).
• March 15, 1966 :
— Creation of the Council of the Republic which included the members of Government and of PSD Political Bureau.
• May 31, 1966 :
— Official launch of the Tunisian Television.
• January 5, 1967 :
— The National Assembly adopts an organic law concerning collectivization.
• March 14, 1967 :
— President Bourguiba suffered a serious heart attack.
• May 20, 1968 :
— President Bourguiba delivers a speech before the UN General Assembly.
• March 28, 1969 :
— Signing an agreement concerning Tunisia’s joining of the European Common Market.
• May 10, 1969 :
— President Bourguiba in ill health (6-week rest).
• May 29, 1969 :
— The National Assembly adopted the 3rd Development Plan (1969-1972).
• September 2, 1969 :
— The Council of the Republic rejects a bill providing for the generalization of agricultural collectivization.
• September 8, 1969 :
— President Bourguiba removes Ahmed Ben Salah from his position at the head of the State Secretariat for planning and national economy.
• September 25-28 & October 27, 1969 :
— Floods (human losses, considerable damage)
• November 2, 1969 :
— Presidential election (Third term of office of President Bourguiba) — Legislative elections.
• November 17, 1969 - June 1, 1970 :
— President Bourguiba in Paris for medical treatment.
• May 23, 1970 :
— Sentencing of Ben Salah.
• January 6, 1971 :
—Bourguiba in the United States for medical treatment.
• January 24 –June19, 1971 :
— Bourguiba in Geneva for medical treatment.
• October 11-13, 1971 :
— 8th Congress of PSD - Monastir I
• May 14, 1972 :
— Municipal elections.
• March 19, 1973 :
— Floods in the Governorates of the North and in a number of Governorates of the Center.
• July 31, 1973 :
— The National Assembly adopts the 4th Development Plan (1973-1976).
• January 19-23, 1974 :
— Bourguiba in Switzerland for medical care.
• September 12, 1974 :
— 9th Congress of PSD – Monastir II
• November 3, 1974 :
— Presidential election (Fourth term of office of Bourguiba) — Legislative elections
• March18, 1975 :
— Bourguiba is granted life presidency (Constitutional law 75-13 dated March 19, 1975).
• January 26, 1978 :
— « Black Thursday » : Riots took place following an ultimatum for a general strike (52 dead and about 365 injured). —Setting up of the Arab League in Tunis.
• September 5, 1979 :
— 10th Congress of PSD in Tunis.
• January 27, 1980 :
— Events of Gafsa.
• April 10, 1981 :
— 11th Congress of PSD.
• August 28, 1982 :
— Reception of Palestinian militants who left Lebanon.
• December 27, 1983 - January 6, 1984 :
— « Bread riots » : caused by increases in the price of bread and cereal products (70 dead)
• October 1, 1985 :
— Israeli raid on Hammam-Chatt
• June 19, 1986 :
— 12th Congress of PSD. Nov. 7, 1987 Tunisia steps into a new era in its history when Mr. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali becomes Head of State and announces a series of measures to strengthen democracy and respect for human rights.
Dec. 16, 1987
A Constitutional Council is established to check the constitutionality of the country’s laws.
Dec. 29, 1987
The Court of State Security is abolished, in materialization of the principle of a single system of justice. Emergency courts are also abolished.
Dec. 29, 1987
The office of Public Prosecutor of the Republic is abolished with a view to promoting the independence of the Judiciary.
July 25, 1988
The constitution is revised to reaffirm popular sovereignty, and to abolish presidency for life and automatic succession to the presidency.
Nov. 7, 1988
The National Pact is signed, bringing together all political parties and the various political and civil tendencies around the values of nationalism, cultural identity, openness, and tolerance.
March 23, 1989
The Arab Institute for Human Rights sets up its headquarters in Tunis.
April 2, 1989
Early presidential and parliamentary elections are organized, with the participation of all the country’s political parties and trends.
June 10, 1990
The first multi-party municipal elections since the Change of November 7, 1987 are held.
Dec. 8, 1993
The National Solidarity Fund (26-26) is established.
April 9, 1994
The first multi-party Parliament in Tunisia’s history is inaugurated.
April 22, 1995
The "Carthage Charter for Tolerance in the Mediterranean" is adopted following the Mediterranean Conference on the Pedagogy of Tolerance.
Nov. 6, 1995
A constitutional law is enacted incorporating the Constitutional Council into the text of the constitution and widening its prerogatives; the aim being to reinforce the primacy of the constitution and the rule of law.
May 23, 1998
President Ben Ali inaugurates, in Tunis, the headquarters of the Tunisian Solidarity Bank (BTS), which he had decided to create on May 21, 1997. This bank constitutes a flexible mechanism facilitating access to credit, particularly for craftsmen and vocational training graduates, men and women of limited means and unable to provide guarantees, in order to enable them to materialize their projects, ensure self-employment and become self-reliant.
Nov. 2, 1998
Promulgation of constitutional law 98-76 dated November 2, 1998, amending the first paragraph of article 75 of the constitution and making the decisions of the Constitutional Council binding upon all public authorities. The new text aims at further consecrating the supremacy of the constitution.
March 29, 1999
Enactment of law 99-27 dated 29 March 1999, completing law 97-48 dated July 21, 1997 concerning the public funding of political parties. Under the new law, political parties are offered an annual grant as a contribution to covering the cost of paper and printing of their newspapers.
Aug. 25, 1999
President Ben Ali calls on all world leaders and the various United Nations and other international institutions for the establishment of a “World Solidarity Fund” whose task would be to collect donations and voluntary contributions and to use them in the fight against poverty and in the development of the most disadvantaged regions in the world, particularly the poorest countries suffering serious scourges and crises.
Oct. 24, 1999
First pluralist presidential election in Tunisian history. President Ben Ali was elected for a new term of office.
Oct. 30, 1999
President Ben Ali chairs a Cabinet meeting which considered the proposed establishment of a National Employment Fund (21-21) whose creation was announced by the Head of State on October 10, 1999 as part of his Electoral Program. This fund constitutes a new mechanism designed to promote employment and reduce the unemployment rate by increasing job opportunities. Dec. 20, 2000 In its 55th session, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopts a resolution commending President Ben Ali’s call for the establishment of a World Solidarity Fund for the purpose of combating poverty in the world.
Jan. 6, 2001
Penitentiary institutions are transferred under the authority of the Ministry of Justice.
May 26, 2002
For the first time in Tunisia’s history, the Tunisian people go to the ballot boxes to decide, by referendum, on the fundamental constitutional reform.
June 1, 2002
Promulgation of the constitutional law 2002-51, amending certain provisions of the constitution, following the people’s approval of the reform through the referendum whose results have been proclaimed by the committee in charge of controlling the referendum operation.
Dec. 21, 2002
The UN General Assembly adopts a draft resolution calling for the establishment of a World Solidarity Fund, for the purpose of fighting poverty and promoting human resources in developing countries.
June 14, 2005
Promulgation of Organic Law 2004-48 dated June 14, 2004, organizing the operation of the Chamber of Deputies and Chamber of Advisors, and determining the relations between both bodies.
Oct. 24, 2004
The second pluralist presidential election is held. President Ben Ali is elected for a new term of office.
Oct. 24, 2004
Pluralist legislative elections are held. The Opposition wins 37 seats and thus reinforces its presence in the Chamber of Deputies.
Nov. 16-18, 2005
Tunisia hosts the World Summit on the Information Society. At the end of this Summit, two documents are adopted : the “Tunis Commitment” and the “Tunis Agenda on the Information Society”
Dec. 23, 2005
The UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution proclaiming December 20 of each year a World Day for Human Solidarity.
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