Tunisian defence minister Zbidi to run for president
TUNIS: Tunisian defence minister Abdelkarim Zbidi submited his candidacy on Wednesday for an early presidential election expected to take place on Sept.15.
Zbidi, 69, an independent supported by liberal parties including Nidaa Tounes and afek Tounes, is likely to be among leading candidates in the election, to be held early following the death of president Beji Caid Essebsi last month.
Ennahdha party announced a presidential candidate for the first time Wednesday, ahead of polls next month.
“The party’s advisory council has voted by a majority of 98 votes in favour of Abdelfatah Mourou’s candidacy at the presidential election,” Ennahdha said in a statement.
Mourou, 71, was appointed interim parliamentary speaker following the death last month of president Beji Caid Essebsi.
The Ennahdha politician had previously served as the deputy speaker, and changed roles ater the then parliamentary head Mohamed Ennaceur stepped up as interim president.
The party’s announcement marks “the first time in its history that the movement puts forward a candidate for the presidential elections,” spokesman Imed Khmiri said.
Ennahdha won the first polls ater the 2011 uprising which ousted autocratic president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and is currently the largest party in parliament.
Mourou is known as a moderate and is one of the founding members of Ennahdha, which was launched in 1981.
Presidential hopefuls have until Aug.9 to register, ahead of the election on Sept.15.
So far 27 people have submited their candidacy to the electoral commission, including media magnate Nabil Karoui.
He was charged with money laundering in July, ater stating his intention to stand in the polls.
Karoui is a fierce rival of Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, who is standing in the presidential vote with his Tahia Tounes party.
They have been joined in the race by Abir Moussi, who heads a group formed from the remnants of Ben Ali’s ruling party.
The NGOS requested on Sunday that the Tunisian authorities allow the “migrants to enter urgently into Tunisian territory so that they can be taken care of by humanitarian organisations.”