Tunisia’s elections commission has said that presidential election will now take place on November 17 instead of the earlier announced date of November 10.
The delay of one week was announced on Friday by a spokesman for the elections commission.
Officials said the initial date set for the election conflicted with an Islamic holiday. Many Tunisians are expected to travel on the said date.
Tunisia experienced an uprising in 2011 mainly over lack of jobs and economic opportunities. That forced the long-serving leader, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to exit power.
Elections in Tunisia are largely dominated by the Islamist Ennahda and secular Nidaa Tounis parties.
Tunisia is largely governed by the central government but there have also been an attempt to decentralize decision making processes across the country.
Last year elections took place in 350 municipalities to that effect. Later this year, parliamentary elections will take place alongside the presidential poll.
Islamist Ennahda party, the more secular Tahya Tounes party of Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, and the Nidaa Tounes party led by Hafedh Caid Essebsi will dominate that election.
Tunisia has a high unemployment rate among young people in areas were phosphate mining takes place.
Last year protesters clashed with police in a mining town in the southern part of the country. They were demanding jobs and development.
Source: Africafeeds.com
