Ghannouchi is a member of the Tunisian parliament for the Democratic Constitutional Rally. He was Minister of Finance from 1989 to 1992. From 1992 to 1999, he served as Minister of International Co-operation and Foreign Investment, and from 1999 to 2011 he was the Prime Minister of Tunisia,[2] making him the longest serving prime minister since the proclamation of independence, surpassing his predecessor Hamed Karoui.[2]
After the fall of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali on 14 January 2011 in the wake of the 2010–2011 Tunisian uprising, he was the self-proclaimed acting President of the country for a few hours starting on 14 January 2011,[3][4] under Article 56 of the Constitution of Tunisia.[5][6] He remained Prime Minister for six weeks before stepping down.