Ghannushi likely to vie in 2019 poll: Tunisia's Ennahda

As Ennahda co-founder, al-Ghannushi will likely emerge as movement's favored presidential nominee

TUNIS (AA) - A spokesman for Tunisia's Ennahda movement said Thursday that Rashid al-Ghannushi would likely be the movement’s preferred candidate in 2019 presidential polls.

Ennahda spokesman Emad al-Houmairi told Anadolu Agency that the issue had not yet been formally discussed by the movement’s decision-making bodies.

But, he added, as movement co-founder, al-Ghannushi would likely emerge as Ennahda’s favored presidential nominee.

According to Ennahda’s founding charter, the head of the movement can run in presidential elections as long as Ennahda’s executive council approves his or her candidacy.

In Tunisia's May 6 local election, independent candidates won the highest number of local council seats.

Ennahda came in second place with 2,139 seats, followed by the liberal Nidaa Tounes party (1,600 seats) and the leftist Popular Front (261 seats).

According to Tunisia's electoral calendar, the next presidential poll is slated for late 2019.

Kaynak: