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Tunisia Presidential Elections To Host 27 Candidates

Tunisia Presidential Elections To Host 27 Candidates

From Middle East Eye

Twenty-seven candidates including officials who served under former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali have signed up as candidates for Tunisia’s November 23 presidential election, the organising body said Tuesday.

No fewer than 70 people originally filed applications to the Isie, which is organising the first presidential election since the January 2011 revolt forced Ben Ali to flee.

“Of the 70, 27 complied with all of the conditions and were accepted, while 41 were rejected,” Isie chairman Chafik Sarsar told a news conference, adding that two other candidates withdrew.

The approved candidates include incumbent Moncef Marzouki, former premier Beji Caid Essebsi and National Constituent Assembly chief Mustapha Ben Jaafar.

The polls, along with parliamentary elections in October, are seen as a milestone in Tunisia’s transition after more than two decades under Ben Ali.

The north African nation has in recent years grappled with social unrest over poor living conditions and violence. Marzouki was elected president in late 2011 by assembly members under a coalition deal with the moderate Islamist Ennahda party.

Ben Ali-era ministers running

Other candidates running in the November election include Kamel Morjane, Ben Ali’s last foreign minister, as well as another former minister under the dictator, Mondher Zenaidi.

Read more at Middle East Eye