President Beji Caid Essebsi said that Salah Ben Youssef considered as one of the pillars of the Neo-Destour (Destourian liberal party), is today rehabilitated within the Destourian family after 55 years.

In his address Sunday on the celebration of the 60th anniversary of independence, the Head of State pointed out that he had supported leader Habib Bourguiba in the conflict that opposed him to Salah Ben Youssef, notably over independence.

He specified that the request to rehabilitate Salah Ben Youssef sought by his family is among three other rehabilitation requests received by the Presidency of the Republic, notably that of late Tahar Ben Ammar who had signed the independence document before enduring a 5-month imprisonment.

The third request which has been approved by the President of the Republic consists in re-erecting the statue of leader Habib Bourguiba in its place in the avenue named after him.

“This decision testifies that Tunisia is a free and independent State,” Caid Essebsi specified, rejecting in this regard, the statements of some politicians who questioned the interest of the decision.

Source : TAP