Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi was in “stable” condition late on Thursday after suffering from a “severe health crisis,” said the presidency.
One of Essebsi’s advisers told Reuters during the day that Essebsi, 92, was in a “very critical” condition.
On Thursday evening, the adviser said the president’s condition was beginning to improve, without elaborating.
Prime Minister Youssef Chahed said on Facebook that Essebsi was receiving the attention he needed and that people should stop spreading fake news about his condition, after some reports said the president had died..
The presidency said in a new statement that “his condition now is stable and he is under the necessary checks”.
The elderly head of state was hospitalized last week as well, for what the presidency described as non-serious treatment.
Essebsi has been a prominent figure in Tunisia since the overthrow of Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.
Essebsi led the immediate transition as prime minister in 2011. He was elected president three years later. Essebsi had also been a senior figure before 2011, having served as foreign minister under state founder Habib Bourguiba and parliamentary speaker under Ben Ali.
In June, he said he would not run for a second term in elections this year, despite his party calling for him to stand. The party has not identified another candidate yet.
Parliamentary elections are expected to be held on October 6 with a presidential vote following on November 17.
