Tunisia’s prime minister, Youssef Chahed, will run for president in an early election expected on Sept. 15. Political observers say Chahed will emerge as one of the likely frontrunners to succeed Beji Caid Essebsi, who died last week.
Other candidates who have announced their intention to run include liberal former Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa, and Moncef Marzouki, who served as interim president for three years.
Slim Azzabi, secretary-general of the Tahya Tounes party, said it would nominate Chahed as its presidential candidate.
The party, which split off from Essebsi’s party this year, is now the biggest liberal group in Tunisia’s parliament. It governs in coalition with the moderate Islamist Ennahda Party and a smaller liberal group.
Ennahda has not yet named its candidate for the presidency.
Tunisia’s president mainly has authority over foreign and defence policy, governing alongside a prime minister chosen by parliament who has authority over domestic affairs.
