TUNIS
Tunisia's Ennahda movement has decided not to field a candidate in the country's upcoming presidential elections, its spokesman has said.
"We don't want to be a party that monopolizes all posts," Zied Ladhari told Anadolu Agency on Sunday.
"Electing an independent candidate will help achieve the objectives of the [2011] revolution and safeguard Tunisian unity," he added.
By taking such a move, Ladhari said, Ennahda wants to send a message that it is voluntarily choosing not to nominate one of its leaders for the sake of reaching consensus and working with other political parties.
"Ennahda wants to avoid any polarization and divisions," he asserted.
More than 30 Tunisians have already signaled desire to contest the presidential polls, slated for November 23.
Ennahda won the country's first post-revolution elections in 2011 and formed a coalition government with two secular parties before withdrawing from the cabinet last year.
By Yousri Wannas
www.aa.com.tr/en
