Tunisia's presidential aspirants began filing their candidacy for the September 15 presidential election on Friday (August 2nd) to elect a successor to the late head of state Beji Caid Essebsi. Initially scheduled for November, the election was advanced following the death on July 25, at age 92, of the first democratically elected president elected by universal suffrage in this pioneer country of the Arab Spring.

At least nine suitors filed their cases at the headquarters of the Independent Election Authority (Isie) in Tunis, including businessman and media mogul Nabil Karoui. Recently indicted for money laundering, he presents himself as the candidate of the poorest.

>> To read: The presidency of Beji Caid Essebsi, symbol of the ambivalence of the Tunisian revolution

Nabil Karoui, who has multiplied the charitable actions for his candidacy, has almost failed to compete with the adoption in mid-June by the Parliament of an electoral code prohibiting anyone who has granted "any benefits in cash or nature "to citizens the year preceding the poll to run. But President Essebsi did not promulgate the new electoral code before his death, leaving the candidate open.

Nabil Karoui is now a strong opponent for Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, who has not yet announced his candidacy, although his party Tahya Tounes said Wednesday that he would be a candidate. Former opponent of ousted President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali Abbou Mohamed, currently leader of the Democratic Movement, or "Tayyar", also submitted his candidacy for the presidential election, noted an AFP journalist.

"Restore order in Tunisia"

Abir Moussi, pasionnaria of the former regime of the deposed dictator Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, also registered in the race. It advocates among other things the exclusion of Islamists including those of the Ennahdha party. "Our priority today is to restore order in Tunisia, to strengthen the Tunisian state," she told AFP.

Between candidates and parties, alliances or almost all seem possible, except with this candidate who claims the legacy of the former dictator. Candidates have until August 9 to submit their application. On August 31, Isie will announce the final list of those selected and the campaign will run from September 2 to 13.

Preliminary results on September 17th

The preliminary results will be announced on September 17, according to the electoral calendar unveiled to the press by Nabil Baffoun, president of this body. The date of the second round of the presidential election has not been decided, but it should be held before November 3, according to Nabil Baffoun.

Political parties have expressed support for this timetable, while others, such as the Ennahdha Party, have wanted to postpone the presidential election.

With AFP