The Ben Ali regime refers to the period of governance in Tunisia under Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled from 1987 until 2011. He came to power after a bloodless coup that ousted the previous president, Habib Bourguiba. Ben Ali's government was characterized by authoritarian rule, political repression, and limited freedoms, with a focus on economic liberalization. During his time in office, the regime faced criticism for human rights abuses and corruption. The discontent among the population culminated in the Tunisian Revolution of 2010-2011, which ultimately led to Ben Ali fleeing to Saudi Arabia and marked the beginning of the Arab Spring.