Marzouki: We will not withdraw the appeals against the presidential election's results

Tunisia’s presidential candidate Mohamed Moncef Marzouki’s campaign is holding on to the appeals it filed at the Administrative Court regarding breaches during the elections, spokesperson Adnan Mansar said.

In a press conference held at the campaign’s headquarters in the capital Tunis yesterday, Mansar said: “We have filed appeals relating to major breaches that exceeded 300 and we are committed to the appeals.”

“We focused on the most serious appeals, including preventing Marzouki from conducting his electoral right in the Sousse governorate, directing voters inside polling stations, electoral bribes and the breaches of the election silence,” he added.

“The purpose of these appeals is to seek the law’s protection and assist the Independent High Electoral Commission in pinpointing breaches and further improving its work.”

During the press conference, legal adviser to Marzouki’s campaign, Aseel El-Masmoudi, said that they are waiting for the Administrative Court’s ruling, which is expected this evening, to decide on further steps.

El-Masmoudi said that eight appeals had been filed relating to breaches in the governorates of Bizerte, Siliana, Nabeul and Sousse.

He stressed that the breaches that took place in the Sousse province may amount to an “electoral crime”.

Spokesperson Adnan Mansar added that as yet, Marzouki’s rival candidate Beji Caid Essebsi has not agreed to hold a public debate between the two candidates before the second round of elections this month.

He noted that, in the event that the debate takes place, it will be broadcast on a Tunisian channel.

A meeting was recently held between Marzouki and the Free Patriotic Union’s leader Slim Riahi, Mansar added, looking for possibilities of cooperation.