Tunisia's First Post-Uprising Leader Joins Packed Electoral Race

(Bloomberg) -- Tunisia's former president, Moncef Marzouki, joined a fast-growing list of candidates seeking the top job in the Arab world's only true democracy next month.

Marzouki, who announced his candidacy to a local radio station Tuesday, is the latest of more than two dozen would-be challengers for the Sept. 15 vote. Rivals reportedly include Defense Minister Abdelkarim Zbidi and a populist media mogul, Nabil Karoui. Tunisia's moderate Islamist party, Ennahda, is weighing whether to field its first-ever presidential contender.

The packed race is a vivid reminder of the political freedoms ushered in by the North African country's 2011 uprising, which unseated long-time President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and inspired years of upheaval across the region. Tunisia, practically alone, has emerged with a strengthened democracy and about 220 parties, even as it's been mired in political bickering and economic malaise.

Marzouki, a long-time dissident and activist, was elected by lawmakers as head of state after Ben Ali's ouster. He lost in 2014 to Beji Caid Essebsi, who was elected on what became a largely unfulfilled promise to unite Tunisia. Essebsi died at age 92 in late July, forcing officials to move forward the presidential vote that had been due later in the year.

Beji Caid Essebsi, Who Tried to Unite Tunisia, Dies at 92

Zbidi's presidential bid was reported Tuesday by radio station Mosaique FM, which said he'll be backed by Nidaa Tounes, a major party founded by Essebsi. Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, who broke from Nidaa, is considering a presidential bid. One of Chaded's predecessors, Hamadi Jebali, has also registered, the pan-Arab Al-Hadath satellite channel reported.

The Ennahda party, which embraces what it calls “democratic Islam,” is holding meetings Tuesday on whether it'll break tradition and run for the presidency or back another candidate while seeking seats in October's parliamentary vote.

--With assistance from Jihen Laghmari.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tarek El-Tablawy in cairo at teltablawy@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alaa Shahine at asalha@bloomberg.net, Michael Gunn, Mark Williams

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