2,074 electoral lists to vie in Tunisia municipal polls

By Saif Eddin bin Mahjoub

TUNIS (AA) - A total of 2,074 electoral lists have registered to take part in upcoming municipal polls, Tunisia's official electoral commission said Thursday.

“A decision by Tunisia’s administrative court to add six more lists has brought the total number to 2,074,” commission head Mohamed al-Mansri said at a press conference convened in capital Tunis.

According to commission member Anwar bin Hassan, 1,055 of the lists are affiliated with established political parties, 860 are independent, and the remaining 159 are the result of coalitions.

Noting the widespread participation of Tunisian youth in the upcoming polls, al-Mansri said that more than half of the candidates -- 52 percent -- are under 35 years old.

On May 6, approximately 45,000 candidates will vie for municipal council seats in 350 districts across the country.

According to the electoral commission, some 5,369,000 Tunisians will be eligible to cast ballots.