As a result of former president Beji Caid Essebsi’s death, the Tunisian elections were brought forward to 15 September in order to ensure that a new president would take office within 90 days, as required by the constitution. Following the eight-day process of accepting nominations – from 2 to 9 August – the Independent High Authority for Elections (IHAE) released on 31 August the final list of candidates for the presidential race, accepting 26 nominees, which includes two women: Selma Elloumi Rekik and Abir Moussi. The election campaigns already began on 2 September and will continue until 13 September. Preliminary election results will be announced on 17 September and then final results on 21 October. This year is different, however, as changing attitudes towards women brings hope that they may have the first female Tunisian president. “There is a clear change in the mentality of Tunisians, who now trust women, and now accept that the country could be led for the first time by a female president,” Selma Elloumi told AP in an interview. One of the female candidates is Abir Moussi, lawyer and politician, and who is a candidate and…
