Tunisia’s Bourguiba Fires Premier

President Habib Bourguiba on Tuesday dismissed Premier Mohammed Mzali and named an economist, Rashid Sfar, as his new heir apparent.

Mzali, premier since 1980, was dismissed curtly after seeing his power and influence gradually curbed by the president in recent months.

Mzali’s abrupt ouster was less a surprise than its timing and the choice of his successor. Sfar, who has been finance minister, had not been considered a likely successor to the aging Tunisian leader, proclaimed president for life in 1975.

Only three weeks ago, the 82-year-old Bourguiba, who has ruled Tunisia since its independence from France in 1956, confirmed the Western-oriented Mzali, a former schoolteacher, as premier and secretary general of the ruling Destourian Socialist Party, saying, “He has my confidence, now and in the future.”

Tunisia is facing lean years caused by a sharp drop in oil revenues. Western diplomats said the appointment of Sfar, 53, could be interpreted as giving new priority to solving the country’s economic problems.

Mzali started in office by promoting a new era of political liberalization leading to the recognition in 1983 of three opposition political parties.

But worsening economic problems leading to a bitter confrontation with the powerful General Union of Tunisian Workers contributed to reversing the trend, diplomats said.

Tunisia is regarded as one of the most moderate of Arab nations. It has received more than $1 billion in U.S. military and economic aid since independence.