Tunisia: Ennahda names VP to run for 15 September snap election

Tunisia’s biggest moderate Islamist party Ennahda has nominated its Vice President to run for the advanced September 15 elections, first time since the transition.

The party, the largest in the parliament, chose Abdel Fattah Mourou, a 71-year old lawyer as its presidential candidate.

Mourou is the current interim speaker of the House of Representative after the institution’s President Mohamed Ennaceur became the country’s acting President after Caid Essebsi died late last month.

Ennahda has long waited to name its candidate for the snap election. Mourou’s choice reflects the change in the party’s ideology and distance from radical Islam.

Over 21 candidates have submitted their bids for election since the electoral body launched the process on August 2. Mourou will face liberal former Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa and former head of the transition Moncef Marzouki but most importantly, current Prime Minister Youssef Chahed who represents his party Tahaya Tounes.