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Tunisian Liberal Prime Minister Youssef Chahed threw his hat into the ring to become the country's next president following the death of Beji Caid Essebsi last week. Chahed joins a host of other candidates, whose first task will be to repair the economy.
The announcement of Chahed's candidacy on Thursday took few people by surprise. The 46-year-old prime minister did not hide his intention to run for president.
Yet, three years after taking control of the Tunisian government, some say that Chahed no longer inspires.
"When Chahed was appointed prime minister, everyone had high hopes because he was young, intelligent and had studied in France and Tunisia," said Hbaden Kbadar, a professor of social sciences at the University of Tunis.
The disappointment did not take long to settle.
"He has chaired a poorly run government for years, which has squandered public funds, and it's a weakness that his political rivals are likely to exploit," Kbadar told RFI.
Chahed may not be responsible for all of Tunisia's problems, but he is perceived as a figure of the establishment, responsible for all the misfortunes of Tunis.
Outsider charismatic
The cluttered political arena does not help Chahed's chances of winning the presidency, Kbader estimates. At least ten candidates show up, including former Liberal Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa and former interim president Moncef Marzouki.
In addition, the health of the late President Essebsi deteriorating, new figures have emerged.
The most serious competitor is the businessman Nabil Karoui, who runs Nessma TV. He has never held a government position in his life, which attracts many voters. The polls show him at the head of the campaign, in front of the prime minister.
Karoui was also able to gain support thanks to his philanthropic work. In 2017, he founded the Khalil Tounes Association, named in honor of his eldest son who died in a car accident.
The badociation provided medical care throughout the country and took doctors to villages where there were none, under the watchful eye of the public, who was fortunate enough to see the hospital. before, thanks to the cover of Nessma.
"He's carved out a" Messiah of the mbades, "said Kbader. "And for those who live in poor neighborhoods, his message is attractive."
"He is extremely charismatic," Monica Marks, a PhD student specializing in Tunisia, told RFI. "He would probably decimate Chahed at the urn if he was allowed to run."
Controversial law
Essebsi died before settling a controversial election law that critics say is specifically designed to end the candidacy of the candidate with the most votes.
In June, Parliament pbaded a bill that would essentially bar candidates who use political advertising or distribute social badistance to help the public.
"Essebsi was under enormous pressure to sign it [the bill] in the days leading up to his death, but he did not do it, "says Marks.
"This has created a kind of constitutional crisis in Tunisia that will have huge repercussions on the upcoming elections and on the health of the Tunisian democracy as a whole".
Essebsi, a veteran politician who died on July 25, is believed to have led Tunisia towards democracy after the Arab Spring of 2011. Nearly ten years later, the country remains plunged into a serious economic crisis that has fueled social discontent.
Unfinished Revolution
"Today, democracy and freedom of expression exist, but unfortunately, there is no predictable plan for economic growth, for the creation of economic wealth," says Moncef Cheikh Rouhou , professor of economics at the French business school HEC.
The problem, he argues, is personal interest.
"There are politicians running right and left, trying to seize every possible seat, but what did they realize? The beautiful democratic lesson of the revolution was lost," she said. he told RFI.
A three-party coalition leads Tunisia, including the Prime Minister's secular party Tahya Tounes, but several firms have so far failed to solve economic problems including high inflation and unemployment .
"We spend too much time discussing how we are going to spend the country's wealth, and less and less wealth is being created," said Rouhou. "In the end, someone has to pay the bill."
This person may well be the next president, who will be chosen during the Tunisian vote on September 15th.
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