BREAKING: Tunisia’s 92-Year-Old President, Beji Caid Essebsi Has Died

Tunisia’s 92-year-old president, Beji Caid Essebsi, has died. Essebsi contributed immensely in transitioning to democracy after a 2011 revolution.

He was taken to a military hospital on Wednesday. Essebsi had last month spent a week in the hospital after suffering what authorities described as a severe health crisis. In a statement, the presidency said:

On Thursday morning, the President of the Republic died at the military hospital in Tunis … The burial ceremony will be announced later.

The speaker of Parliament is expected to assume the presidency in an acting capacity.

Parliamentary elections are expected to be held on Oct. 6 with a presidential vote following on Nov. 17.

More: Reuters