Tunisian Prime Minister and leader of the long-term Liberal Party of Tunisia, Youssef Chahed, presented his candidacy papers for next month's presidential elections to be one of the most prominent contenders for the position in a race expected to witness strong competition, while the number of those who submitted their candidatures for the early Tunisian presidential elections reached 69, hours before the closing of the candidacy door at the headquarters of the Electoral Commission yesterday afternoon.

In detail, the witness confirmed in statements to reporters after the presentation of his file, that he would not resign from the government. "Whoever wants to resign wants to postpone the elections, and my resignation means the resignation of the government and this is an escape from responsibility," he said.

The witness said that he was subjected to a campaign of defamation, including accusing him of marginalizing retirees and poor families, pointing out that he preferred not to respond out of respect for the prestige of the state and adopted the path of work and frankness, pointing out that he hopes to build a new page based on the continuation of the national project.

The witness stressed that he seeks through his candidacy for the upcoming presidential elections to be a representative of the break with what he described as "old behavior", and that his candidacy cut off the road to the populists and what he described as "chasing behind positions for immunity."

The witness added that the responsibility of the Presidency of the Republic is not easy and requires a great deal of clean hand and comprehensive knowledge of the state administration, in addition to the national sense and act as a statesman, praising the consensus of his party on his candidacy.

The 44-year-old witness, among the candidates for the second round of this presidential race, and his name is strongly proposed to succeed the late President Beji Kaid Essebsi, after his success in establishing a political party that imposed itself in record time, and the formation of a parliamentary bloc no less than 44 He is counting on the support of the modernist centrist family in the face of Ennahdha's candidate, and is betting on his career and 'achievements' since he became prime minister in 2015, but he will face fierce competition from the candidate of the same centrist Abdul Karim al-Zubaidi.

The party «Long live Tunisia», announced the day before yesterday, the nomination of the witness to run for president.

On Wednesday, Tunisian Defense Minister Abdelkarim Zubeidi submitted his candidacy papers to the presidential elections slated for September 15, making him one of the most prominent contenders in the post, which was frequently mentioned by the late President Beji Kaid Essebsi, who is a prominent candidate to succeed him.

News sources said earlier that the Popular Front candidate, Hamma Hammami, submitted his candidacy papers for the presidential elections, as well as the case of former Tunisian Prime Minister Hammadi Jebali, while Ennahda movement pushed its Vice President Abdel Fattah Moro.

Moro, 71, presented his candidacy, accompanied by the head of the Brotherhood, Rashed Ghannouchi, wearing the Tunisian "Jubba" uniforms, and told reporters that the aim of the candidacy was to "serve the country."

Tunisia is set to hold an early presidential election on September 15 to choose a successor to late President Béji Kaid Essebsi, who died in late July.

In addition, businessman, media and propagandist Nabil Al-Qarawi filed his file for the early presidential elections, raising the slogan of defending the poor, even though the judiciary charged him with money laundering.

Earlier in the Arab world, Tunisian lawyer Mounir Battour, who raises the banner of homosexuality and does not hide the fact that he was among them, the day before yesterday, filed his candidacy.

The election campaign was set for September 2-13, and after the day of silence, voters cast their ballots on September 15. The preliminary results of the elections are announced on September 17, according to the election program announced to journalists by the President of the Supreme Electoral Commission, Nabil Bfon.

No date has been set for the second round, which should be held, if necessary, before November 3, according to the head of the Supreme Electoral Commission.