klibi became the tunisian minister of cultural affairs (1961 - 1970, 1971 - 1973, 1976 - 1978) under the chairmanship of habib bourguiba, then chief of staff to the president from 1974 to 1976 before being minister of information from 1978 to 1979. he also was mayor of carthage from 1963 to 1990.