Tunisia's presidential vote pits professor vs. prisoner
Posted September 29, 2019 7:00 am
NABEUL, Tunisia (AP) - The professor refuses to campaign for president and the prisoner cannot, yet both are running for Tunisia's highest office.
Tunisian voters sent two political outsiders into the presidential runoff, forcing a choice between an obscure conservative law professor who believes Tunisians know enough about him already and a media magnate whose face is plastered over posters nationwide, but who's been in jail for the last month on corruption allegations.
Professor Kais Saied is refusing to hold rallies, print posters or use any of the usual marketing that drives a modern presidential campaign. He won the first round on Sept. 15, with 18% of the vote.
In second with 15% support was Nabil Karaoui, a jailed mogul who sends out Facebook missives and letters via his wife and lawyers. He denies the charges.
In this Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 photo, supporters of jailed media magnate Nabil Karoui chant for his freedom and carry posters which were provided to them by his campaign officials, in Nabeul, west of Tunis, Tunisia. The two contenders for Tunisia's upcoming presidential runoff vote, pitches a professor who refuses to campaign, against a media mogul who can only campaign from his jail cell. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
The Associated Press
In this Sept. 16, 2019 photo, members of Tunisia's independent electoral commission fill out vote results during the vote count, a day after presidential elections in Tunis, Tunisia. The two final contenders for Tunisia's upcoming presidential runoff vote, pitches a professor who refuses to campaign, against a media mogul who can only campaign from his jail cell.(AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
The Associated Press
In this Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 photo, Salwa Karoui, wife of Tunisia's jailed presidential candidate and media mogul Nabil Karoui, displays a letter he wrote, during a presser in his party's headquarters, in Tunis, Tunisia. The two contenders for Tunisia's upcoming presidential runoff vote, pitches a professor who refuses to campaign, against a media mogul who can only campaign from his jail cell. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
The Associated Press
In this Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 photo, supporters of jailed media magnate Nabil Karoui chant for his freedom and carry posters which were provided to them by his campaign officials, in Nabeul, west of Tunis, Tunisia. The two final contenders for Tunisia's upcoming presidential runoff vote, pitches a professor who refuses to campaign, against a media mogul who can only campaign from his jail cell.(AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
The Associated Press
In this Monday, Sept. 16, 2019 photo, a man reads Al-Shorouk daily newspaper showing candidates Kais Saied, right, and Nabil Karoui on its front-page, a day after the first round of presidential elections, in a coffee shop in Tunis, Tunisia. The two contenders for Tunisia's upcoming presidential runoff vote, pitches a professor who refuses to campaign, against a media mogul who can only campaign from his jail cell.(AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
The Associated Press
In this Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 photo, supporters of Tunisian independent law professor Kais Saied follow the results of the first round of the presidential elections as they are broadcast on national television, in his office in downtown Tunis, Tunisia. The two contenders for Tunisia's upcoming presidential runoff vote, pitches a professor who refuses to campaign, against a media mogul who can only campaign from his jail cell. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
The Associated Press
In this Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 photo, a supporter of jailed media magnate Nabil Karoui stands inside his party's headquarter in Nabeul, west of Tunis, Tunisia. The two final contenders for Tunisia's upcoming presidential runoff vote, pitches a professor who refuses to campaign, against a media mogul who can only campaign from his jail cell.(AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
The Associated Press
In this Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 photo, campaign volunteers and supporters of jailed presidential candidate and media mogul Nabil Karoui react as they follow exit polls in his party's headquarters, in Tunis, Tunisia. The two final contenders for Tunisia's upcoming presidential runoff vote, pitches a professor who refuses to campaign, against a media mogul who can only campaign from his jail cell.(AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
The Associated Press
In this Tuesday, Sept.17, 2019 photo, Tunisian independent law professor Kais Saied speaks to his supporters and the media after advancing to the second round in the country's presidential elections, in his office in Tunis, Tunisia. The final two contenders for Tunisia's upcoming presidential runoff vote, pitches a professor who refuses to campaign, against a media mogul who can only campaign from his jail cell.(AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.