Tunisia Court rejects Marzouki's appeal against presidential elections

The Administrative Court of Tunis has rejected appeals filed by incumbent presidential candidate Mohamed Moncef Marzouki against alleged violations committed during the first round of the country’s presidential elections. Marzouki’s campaign manager, Geneidi Talib, told Anadolu news agency on Monday that: “The administrative court has verbally informed the campaign with its decision”, noting that the legal committee of Marzouki’s presidential campaign will meet at a later time to discuss the court’s decision and decide whether or not to appeal.

Meanwhile, a member of Tunisia’s Independent High Electoral Commission, Nabil Pafon, said that “the Administrative Court is expected to deliver its decision in writing on Tuesday”. Pafon pointed out that the “deadlines to appeal the court’s decision are on 3 and 4 December and if Marzouki decides not to appeal the second-round of elections will be held on 14 December, but if he decides to appeal the election date will be scheduled on the 21st of the same month”.

A spokesman for Marzouki’s campaign, Adnan Monser, said earlier that the Marzouki campaign will follow up on appeals filed with the Administrative Court. “We documented 300 violations on Election Day and we are going to appeal against the most serious ones, including preventing Marzouki from carrying out his electoral right in eastern Sousse province, directing voters inside polling stations, using illicit money during the electoral campaign and breaching electoral silence”.

The leader of Nida Tounes, Beji Kaid Essebsi will be competing with independent candidtie Moncef Marzouki during the second round of the presidential race later in December. Although seen as a secular rival to the Ennahada party, Nida Tounes is considered by many observers to include members of the previous regime under former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Nida Tounes won last month’s general election with 86 seats in new 217-seat parliament, ahead of the rival Islamist Ennahda party with 69 seats and smaller parties that took the rest.