While leading the first round of Tunisian presidential elections with Kaïs Saïed, Nabil Karoui was denied his request for release from prison. What's the point of a second round in this funny democracy?
It is said that Tunisia is a country apart, it's true! It is the only democracy in the world that keeps in preventive detention, one of the two candidates in the second round of the presidential election.
This Wednesday evening, the investigating judge who threw Nabil Karoui in prison declared himself incompetent to rule on his request for release. One can bet that the incompetence of this magistrate will not be an obstacle to his career.
The Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation also washed their hands.
The body organizing the poll has called for this release, to no avail. European observers have claimed it too, always cause.
The judges decided that Nabil Karoui should be removed from the competition. That's good, the Prime Minister thought the same. Just like the Islamists of Ennahdah whose businessman was siphoning the electorate.
In prison, we are often beaten and Nabil Karoui will be.
The other candidate, Kaïs Saïed triumphs by default. The small candidates rallied. He is the substitute candidate of Islamists. His election in early October will be a formality. One wonders why to organize it.
He did not have a word for his imprisoned rival. It is not very fair play but it must be understood: he respects too much the sovereign judges. If Nabil Karoui is sentenced, maybe President Saeed will pardon him?
Tunisian democracy is not apart, it is flat. And the judges, on their stomachs.