It is reported that Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed will be one of the candidates for the presidential elections to take place on September 15. He will represent the recently created Tahya Tounes party a breakaway branch of the ruling Nidaa Tounes which was formed after the former President Beiji Caid Essebsi passed away last week. The party,has become the largest liberal group in Tunisia’s parliament in coalition with the moderate Islamist Ennahda Party and a smaller liberal group.
The announcement was made by Party’s Secretary-General, Selim Azzabi. However, Chahed himself has not made any statements in this regard for the time being. Meanwhile, Néji Jalloul, a former education minister and Amor Mansour, a former Justice minister have confirmed their plans to run for the presidential polls. Other candidates include former Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa, and Moncef Marzouki, who served as interim president for three years
Tunisia’s presidential elections were scheduled to be held in November when Essebsi’s five-year term was expected to end. The speaker of parliament was sworn in as interim president to lead the country to a new election. Tunisia’s president mainly has authority over foreign and defense policy, governing while the prime minister chosen by parliament has authority over domestic affair
