By RFIPalled on 17-09-2019Modified on 17-09-2019 at 23:31

With 15.58% of the vote, Nabil Karoui is qualified for the second round of the presidential face against Kaïs Saïed. But the 56-year-old businessman is currently imprisoned on suspicion of tax evasion. His campaign team filed a new request for release on Tuesday.

Pressure has increased in recent hours on the judiciary to loosen the grip around Nabil Karoui. In pre-trial detention, the advertiser has not yet been tried and many observers, such as the Vice-President of the European Parliament , request that he be able to campaign fairly.

Fabio Massimo Castaldo, head of the European Election Observation Mission, calls on the authorities to put in place measures to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates. A tie that is not assured today because the TV man is in prison.

" Our mission does not pronounce on the decisions taken by justice. We decide on the respect of the principle of equal opportunities for all candidates. The authorities have been asked to implement the measures that are possible to ensure this principle . "

Same tone on the Carter Center observation mission. " We indicated that there was a problem of equal opportunities as one of the candidates could not compete with the same chances as his competitors, " said Tana de Zulueta, former member of the Italian Parliament

Presidential immunity not retroactive

From his release to an opportunity to participate in the debate between two rounds, from an extension of his visiting rights to his ability to vote, the spectrum of measures to be put in place to promote this equality of opportunity is very wide according to the observers.

Nevertheless, even if he were released, even elected, that would not mean the end of his judicial setbacks because presidential immunity is not retroactive. The ISIE, the body in charge of the smooth conduct of elections, said that if he won in the second round while being in prison, it will announce it and forward the file to the assembly of representatives of the people. The question would then be decided between the deputies and the judicial authority. A way to remember that it is up to justice to decide.

► Also read: Presidential elections in Tunisia: Kaïs Saïed and Nabil Karoui in the second round

A heavy sentence before the second round could, however, prevent him from competing, but a slight penalty without disqualification would not prevent him from doing so. According to the Constitution and the presumption of innocence, Nabil Karoui is still in the running for the presidency .

His wife and daughter are allowed to visit him once a week and his lawyers, every day until 4pm.

    On the same subject

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    Presidential election in Tunisia: an antisystem duel is taking shape for the second round

    Presidential election in Tunisia: Low turnout at mid-day

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