By RFIPalled on 03-10-2019Modified on 03-10-2019 at 19:49

New controversy in Tunisia on the first day of the campaign for the second round of presidential elections, scheduled for 13 October. At issue: a lobbying contract for presidential candidate Nabil Karoui, who came second in the first round and in prison since August 23, and the lobbying company Dickens & Madson Canada Inc. A contract made public by the Department of Justice American justice, according to the law of this country

The contract in question ( to be consulted here ) was signed on August 19, a few days before the arrest of Nabil Karoui, already a candidate declared to the presidential election. In this document, the leader of lobbying firm Dickens & Madson Canada Inc. pledges to " lobby the United States, Russia, the UN (...) to obtain the presidency of the Republic ".

It is also a question of " organizing a meeting " with the American and Russian presidents, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, also under this contract " to reach the presidency ".

But what is especially controversial is the amount of this contract: a million dollars. A figure much higher than the expenses of authorized campaigns in Tunisia.

Is this contract legal or illegal? Does it clearly enter the campaign accounts? This is one of the issues that shake social networks. According to the published document, of this million dollars, 250,000 have already been paid by the candidate, the remaining 750,000 are due in mid-October.

Another question: what consequence will this revelation have on the other controversy of this campaign, namely the continued pre-trial detention of Nabil Karoui? Last night, his entourage was shouting lies and manipulation, even if the document is published on an official website of the US state. This Thursday, the candidate's lawyers were not available.

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