The Tunisian Administrative Court has approved 26 candidates for the presidential elections scheduled for the 15th of next month, after considering the appeals filed by some contenders.
Anis Jarboui, a member of the Independent High Electoral Commission, said that the judgments issued by the Administrative Court are final.
Elections will begin on Saturday for Tunisians living abroad, while inside Tunisia on Monday.
On Friday, Tunisia's interim president, Mohamed Nasser, called on presidential candidates to commit to the election campaign being at a level worthy of society.
Nasser stressed the principle of commitment to the neutrality of the administration, mosques and the media, stressing the need to stay away from maneuvers and open to all competitors.
"I appeal to all who act on behalf of the state authority to abide by the impartiality of the administration, which is a principle of the constitution, and that the state organs are neutral," he said.
"I call on the Independent High Electoral Commission, the High Independent Commission for Audiovisual Communication (HAICA) and civil society organizations to hold elections in transparent conditions."
On the other hand, the interim president said that the suspension of one of the candidates for the presidential elections coincided with the election campaign, and caused confusion and mixed reactions.
The Interior Ministry announced a week ago the arrest of presidential candidate Nabil al-Qarawi and his imprisonment Mornaguia prison in the capital, pursuant to a judicial order issued against him.
| Candidate Sheikh Abdel Fattah Moro was subjected to surveillance and repression under the rule of ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali (websites) |
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The most prominent contenders for Tunisia's presidency include Ennahda candidate Abdel Fattah Moro, outgoing Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, former President Moncef Marzouki, and Defense Minister Abdel Karim Zubeidi.
Moreau, a lawyer, says his goal is to unite Tunisia and make it the capital of the African continent.
On Friday, Ennahda launched the presidential election campaign for its candidate, and Morrow attended the event with party leader Rashed Ghannouchi, who announced the election program.
Reuters quoted analysts as saying Morrow had a good chance of skipping the first round because the secular rivalries were divided.
If he wins the second round, he will become an elected Islamist president in North Africa and the Middle East, although the likelihood of that happening is unclear in the absence of reliable opinion polls.