Ennahda yet to change policy on presidential candidates in runoff election

The official spokesperson of Tunisia’s Islamic Renaissance Movement, or Ennahda, Ziad Al-Athari, has said: “So far, the movement is adhering to its decision about neutrality towards the presidential candidates and a review of this position has not been raised yet, although the Shura Council is the only body concerned with making decisions in this regard.”

Al-Athari told Anadolu news agency that: “The presidential elections did witness some breaches and violations, but did not affect the electoral process in its entirety.”

Concerning the rumours that Ennahda is indirectly supporting President Moncef Marzouki as a candidate, Al-Athari explained that: “The movement is not interested in these rumours because there are parties that only want to force further polarisation. The Renaissance Movement has given full freedom to its members to support the person they deem suitable for the post of the President of the Republic of Tunisia.”

According to Anadolu, it is now confirmed that a runoff election would take place in the last week of December between the candidate of Nidaa Tounes movement, Beji Caid Essebsi, who won about 42 per cent of the votes, and Marzouki, who received 34 per cent.

Ennahda’s Shura Council had announced earlier, prior to the presidential campaign, that the movement was not supporting any presidential candidate and had given full freedom to its members to support the person they deem most suitable.