Zine El Abidine Ben Ali favoured the latter. In conformity with Article 57 of the Tunisian Constitution, the peaceful transition occurred. The country had faced 10% inflation, external debt accounting for 46% of GDP and a debt service ratio of 21% of GDP. In 1999 Fulvio Martini, former head of Italian military secret service SISMI, declared to a parliamentary committee that "In 1985–1987 we organized a kind of "golpe" in Tunisia, putting president Ben Ali as head of state, replacing Burghiba (the Italian spelling of the name) who wanted to flee". Bourguiba, although a symbol of anti-colonial resistance, was considered incapable of leading his country
Mohamed Jegham 2011 as Minister of Trade and Tourism in the "unity government" led by Mohamed Ghannouchi, after the flight of former President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali during the Tunisian revolution. He was replaced ten days later by Mehdi Houas because of his political ties with the RCD and having been part of the government of Ben Ali. He announced on February 19 that he founded a new party called the Homeland Party. Slim Chaker is his secretary of state. Mohamed Jegham is married to his cousin Rafiaa, with whom he has three children. Mohamed Jegham Mohamed Jegham (), (born August 8,