TUNIS, Aug 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tunisia’s electoral commission has rejected nearly three quarters of hopefuls for Sept 15’s presidential election, accepting just two women as candidates, it said.
The poll was brought forward from November following the July death of president Beji Caid Essebsi, elected in the wake of the 2011 revolt that overthrew former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
“Seventy-one nomination papers were rejected, including 51 on the grounds of lack of sponsorships and deposit guarantees and 14 for the lack of endorsements,” Nabil Baffoun, president of the commission, told a press conference.
The two women candidates approved are Salma Loumi, a former tourism minister, and Abir Moussi, a staunch supporter of long-time ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali who was overthrown in the 2011 uprising. Abir Moussi heads a group formed from the remnants of Ben Ali’s ruling party.
Among 71 would-be candidates rejected was Mounir Baatour – an openly gay lawyer whose bid was denounced by 18 associations campaigning for LGBTIQ rights who say he does not represent them.
The electoral commission said he was barred because he failed to gather the required 10,000 signatures.
Among the candidates approved for the race were Prime Minister Youssef Chahed and a key opponent, media magnate Nabil Karoui – who was recently charged with money laundering.
The Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party’s candidate Abdelfattah Mourou was also approved.
Tunisia has been praised as a rare case of democratic transition after the Arab Spring uprisings.
Rejected presidential candidates can lodge appeals and the final list is set to be published by the end of August, the commission said. — NNN-AGENCIES
