By RFIPosted on 15-09-2019Modified on 15-09-2019 at 09:18

In Tunisia, seven million voters are expected to choose their president from a myriad of candidates this September 15. Among the 24 contenders, contested Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, the media mogul sued for money laundering and imprisoned Nabil Karoui, or the first candidate of the Islamist-inspired party Ennahda, Abdelfattah Mourou. A few hours before the electoral silence imposed on the previous day, two second-tier candidates announced their withdrawal in favor of Defense Minister Abdelkarim Zbidi.

On the morning of September 15th, about twenty people line up in front of the school in the rue de Marseille, in Tunis. These voters came very early, around 7am, to be sure to vote. " I want to elect a president who will revive the economy of my country, " says our special correspondent an old man reading his newspaper, to pass the time.

School of the Martyrs' Square, Jendouba.
Khadija has slept very little, she is waiting for the opening of the polling station. "I have been waiting for this moment for so long, I am happy to write the future of my country. # TnElec2019 pic.twitter.com/U5gyoL8q2Y

Michel Picard (@PicardPress) September 15, 2019

Redress the economy: this expression is almost in everyone's minds. " For eight years, the country capsized, Tunisia is a boat adrift, " quipped another voter. In the queue, there are also young people. Omar, in his thirties, dreams of a president who will fight against the unemployment of young graduates.

Pride to vote

In front of the voting center, other voters display their pride of voting, as Abdel Aziz Mahjoub, a retired, who tells us to have lived the constraint under Habib Bourguiba, then under Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. " I am happy , he says, to vote freely today ."

Organization side, no delay in this center. Electoral materials were in place and ISIE agents, the Independent High Authority for Elections, were eagerly awaiting the official start of voting at 8am.

ON RFI KNOWLEDGE

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