Main Opposition Party to Boycott Tunisian Elections

2004-10-22

[AFP]

Tunisia's main opposition party, the Movement of Socialist Democrats, has withdrawn its 89 candidates from Sunday's (24 October) parliamentary elections, party officials announced Thursday. "Our candidates are withdrawing from the poll race to protest the several obstacles the government has erected to prevent them from reaching voters, including the seizure of the election manifesto," said one official. Another party, the Progressive Democrats, had already announced it is boycotting the race.

Incumbent President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, meanwhile, hopes to gain strong support from Tunisian women in the election by pledging to fight against the Islamic veil and boost women's rights. About 25 per cent of the candidates in the election are female, and one of the parties competing -- the Popular Union -- has four women at the top of its parliamentary list. Women play a prominent role in Tunisian industry, particularly in textiles. (El Massa}