By Nda Hope Ndeh, In Buea
Chadlia Saida Farhat, the 85 year-old wife of late Tunisian leader, Beji Caid Essebsi, has died.
She died Sunday morning, September 15, as Tunisia held its second free presidential polls.
Sunday’s polls will elect Tunisia’s second democratically-elected president, since the ousting of former president, Ben Ali, in the Arab Spring uprising of 2011, after his 23-year-rule.
The elections have witnessed a low turnout of 45%, with fewer youth participating, AFP news agency said.
Tunisia held its first free presidential polls in 2014, after which Beji Caid Essebsi became first democratically elected-president.
Mr. Essebsi died in July 2019 at the age of 92, as the oldest world serving president, after largely maintaining stability in Tunisia.
Tunisia is described as the youngest democracy emerging from the Arab world.
The winner of the elections will run a five-year term of office, supported by a prime minister, who is chosen by parliament.
Twenty-six candidates, including two women are running for the elections. Amongst them, 56-year-old Nabil Karoui, who is running behind bars, after being convicted in August for alleged tax fraud.
Tunisian Prime Minister, Youssef Chahed, is one of the candidates for the presidential elections.
TWIF NEWS 