Skip to main content

Tunisians get wide variety of choices in presidential election

Tunisia just saw its first presidential debates, and 26 candidates are vying in the Sept. 15 election to succeed Beiji Caid Essebsi, who died July 25 at the age of 92.
A man poses for a picture with a poster that reads in Arabic "Tunis, Elect and Continue" during the opening of the media center for the presidential election in Tunis, Tunisia, September 12, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed - RC1110D7B900

With Tunisians set to vote in presidential elections Sept. 15, debate about political developments and scandals has heated up both on social media and in cafes. However, as official opinion polling in the electoral campaign period is illegal in Tunisia, what is helping and hindering Tunisians to make up their minds?

The live TV debates — called “The Road to Carthage: Tunisia Decides” and held over three consecutive nights Sept. 7-9 — have been one of the big game changers. They were the first televised presidential debates to be held in Tunisia and only the second in the Arab world, the first being in 2012 in Eygpt.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.