The Supreme Electoral Commission of Tunisia received 10 applications for candidacy in the early presidential elections on the first day of the opening of the candidature, while some major parties have yet to announce their candidates.
Ten candidates filed their files on Friday morning at the headquarters of the Independent High Electoral Commission in the Tunisian capital: Mohamed Abbou of the Democratic Progressive Party, Nabil al-Qarawi of the Party of the Heart of Tunisia, Manji Rahavi of the Popular Front, Abeer Mousa of the Free Constitutional Party and Latfi al-Maraihi for The Republican People's Party, in addition to four independents.
The first round of this early presidential election - originally scheduled for November - was scheduled for September 15, 2019, following the death of Tunisian President Béji Kayed Sibsi on July 25.
Parliament approved in mid-June the amendment of the electoral law, which in its new version refused to nominate and repeal the results of anyone who has proven or benefited from political publicity through a charity or television channel, as regulated by the law governing political parties.
The new electoral law also rejects the candidacy of anyone who proves that he or she has delivered a speech that does not respect the democratic system and the values of the Constitution, and calls for violence and discrimination among citizens or glorifies violations of human rights. But the late president Qaid al-Sibsi did not sign the law before his death.
The law - approved by 128 deputies, rejected by 30 and 14 abstained - sparked controversy. Some saw it as directed against Nabil al-Qarawi, the businessman and owner of a private media channel, which presents itself as a candidate for the poor, who has recently been charged with money laundering.
The prime minister did not submit the witness after his candidacy for the presidential election so far, although his party "Long live Tunisia" confirmed on Wednesday that he will run, nor announced the Renaissance movement candidate for the elections, as well as the appeal of Tunisia and other parties.
The nomination process will end on August 9 and the Supreme Electoral Commission will announce on 31 August the names of the final candidates for the elections.
The campaign starts from September 2 to 13, and after the day of electoral silence, voters cast their ballots on 15 September and the preliminary results of the elections are announced on 17 September.
The date of the second round, which is supposed to take place - if necessary - is not yet scheduled for November 3, according to Nabil Buffon, head of the Supreme Electoral Commission.