Ben Arous, just south of Tunis, has become a political hotspot heading into the October 23rd elections to the constituent assembly. Over 200,000 voters have already registered, and the governorate will have ten seats.

Political parties are extremely aware of the importance of this small but prominent area, and political parties have assigned their biggest personalities to head their Ben Arous candidate lists.

The battle of October 23rd has already started. The PDP (Progressive Democratic Party) list is led by Maya Jribi, the Secretary-General of the party. She is competing with three of the best politicians in Tunisia. Noureddine Bhiri is representing Ennahda,  Mohamed Goumani will be on top of the list for the Party for the Development Reform, and Sadok Belaid heads an independent list. Dr. Sadok Chourou, recently released after twenty years in prison and one of Ennahda’s most important historical figures, is also representing Ennahda alongside Bhiri.

The Tunisian Worker’s Communist Party (POCT) will be led Rafika Rekik, and Moncef Sliti leads the Democratic Alliance. Abdallah Kahlaoui will head the list of the CPR (Congress for the Republic).

Though the system of lists should make it relatively easy for most of the top-listed candidates to win their seat, the election still promises to be hard-fought.

Source: Leaders