Nabil Karoui's presidential candidate arrested for "money laundering" on Saturday accused Prime Minister Youssef Chahed of trying to block the road for this potential rival, boosting tension three weeks before the elections undecided.
Indicted for "money laundering"
Accused on 8 July with his brother Ghazi for "money laundering", Nabil Karoui was arrested on Friday when he was returning from Beja (northwest), where he had just opened a new office of his party Qalb Tounes ( "The heart of Tunisia"). "We are directly accusing Youssef Chahed and his gang of orchestrating this arrest," Iyadh Elloumi, a leader of Qalb Tounes' political bureau, told a news conference.
Denouncing "degrading and dictatorial practices," the official quipped, thanking Youssef Chahed "for this free publicity that only goes in the interest of Nabil Karoui". Iyadh Elloumi assured that "the election campaign will take place in the presence or absence of Nabil Karoui, who will win the presidential election in the first round."
Arrest at three weeks of uncertain election
Youssef Chahed has not reacted so far to these accusations. After declaring himself a candidate, the 43-year-old delegated his powers as head of government on Thursday to Minister of Public Service Kamel Morjane, a former power figure under deposed President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (1987). -2011).
Intervening three weeks before the first round of the presidential election, this arrest raises the tension around this election particularly undecided, in the only country survivor of the Arab Spring 2011. Expected at the end of the year, this election was anticipated due the death in late July of President Beji Caid Essebsi.
"We are waiting for explanations"
In a first reaction, Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Islamic-inspired Ennahdha party, the main force in the parliament, said he was "not happy about this arrest or to see a party or a party leader hindered." "We hold the independence of the judiciary and we expect explanations of justice on this arrest," said Rached Ghannouchi, quoted by a local radio.
Justice Minister Karim Jamoussi ordered his ministry's general inspection "to investigate the circumstances surrounding the issuance of two warrants of arrest against Nabil and Ghazi Karoui and to ensure the legality borrowed procedures, "told AFP an official in this ministry, on condition of anonymity.
The Superior Council of the Judiciary arrested
In a statement, the Association of Tunisian Judges called on the Attorney General of the Tunis Court of Appeal to provide "explanations to the public on the proceedings of this case and the latest developments". She also urged the High Council of the Judiciary to "ensure the smooth running of the judiciary and its independence" during this "very sensitive" period, in accordance with its constitutional prerogatives.
The final list of nominations must be announced on August 31st. Saturday, the electoral body (Isie) said that Nabil Karoui, mainly known as the founder of the channel Nessma TV, remained a candidate for the presidential election.
Even applications from convicted persons can be accepted in Tunisia, unless the judgments are accompanied by a specific prohibition, said the president of Isie, Nabil Baffoun, on a private radio.