A Tunisian belly dancer, singer has announced she wants to run in snap September polls called after the death of 92-year-old leader Beji Caid Essebsi.
Nermine Sfar said in online statements on Tuesday that she is gathering signatures to formally submit her candidacy in the early presidential elections.
"Yes, I am running for president so that I can expose the criminals who hide behind fake posts and values," said Sfar, who has almost half a million social media followers.
The dancer vowed to lower the price of bread and ban the hijab and instead impose the traditional Tunisian headscarf known as the safseri if elected to the top spot.
She also pledged to fine men who fail to honour marriage promises and enact a law to give women two-thirds of inheritance, rather than the traditonal one-third.
"Tunisia will be better than Italy. It will become a country of art and freedom. People will no longer think about leaving the country," she was quoted as saying in local media.
Presidential hopefuls began registering their candidacies on Friday to the North African country's electoral commission.
The would-be candidates, include Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, former President Moncef Marzouki, Abdel Fattah Mourou, the vice president of Islamist party Ennahdha Party, and media magnate Nabil Karoui.
Last month, an openly gay man announced his bid for the presidency, calling for a more inclusive society in the country where homosexuality is still outlawed.
Presidential hopefuls have until 9 August to register, with the commission set to provide a final list of candidates on 31 August.
The campaigns are scheduled to run from 2 September to 13 September, with the preliminary results announced two days after the polls.
A date for the second round of presidential elections has not yet been decided, but the electoral commission said it would be held no later than 3 November.
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/n...ncer-running-for-president-in-september-polls
Tunisian Belly dancer, 21, known for her risque shows and swimsuit selfies announces bid to run for president after promising to ban the hijab and impose fines for unfaithful men .
The north African country is facing an election on September 15, following the death of their first democratically elected leader, Beji Caid Essebs, 92. Sfar said the country will be a 'a country of art and freedom' under her rule .
A 21-year-old belly dancer has announced she is running to be Tunisian president - promising voters she will ban the hijab and impose fines for unfaithful men.
Nermine Sfar, who is known for her risque shows and posting revealing selfies on Instagram, has collected 35,000 voter signatures, three times more than the number required for an eligible bid.
The north African country is facing an election on September 15, following the death of their first democratically elected leader, Beji Caid Essebs, 92.
Sfar, who boasts almost 300,000 Instagram followers, told local media under her rule Tunisia will be 'a country of art and freedom' and that 'people will no longer think about leaving it'.
Sfar, who boasts almost 300,000 Instagram followers, told local media under her rule Tunisa will be 'a country of art and freedom. People will no longer think about leaving it' .
She added the state will be 'better than Italy'.
Sfar's policies include lowering the price of bread and changing the law so women get two-thirds of inheritance, as opposed to the traditional one-third in Islamic custom .
Sfar plans to run on a very liberal ticket in the Muslim-majority state.
Her policies include lowering the price of bread and changing the law so women get two-thirds of inheritance, as opposed to the traditional one-third in Islamic custom.
She also plans to ban the hijab, and impose a traditional Tunisian headscarf known as the safseri instead.
The influencer has also promised to fine men who promise to marry women but don't go through with it or are unfaithful.
She says she's running in response to fan requests.
Tunisa is considered the only democracy in the Arab world, and one of the only to emerge to emerge from the Arab Spring of 2010-2012.
The candidates bidding to lead 11.5 million Tunisians include the president of LGBTIQ+ group Association Shams.
Mounir Baatour is the first openly gay man to run for President in any Arab country - even though gay sex is still illegal in the country.
It comes just six years after the lawyer was arrested for alleged sodomy.
Tunisa is considered the only democracy in the Arab world, and one of the only to emerge to emerge from the Arab Spring of 2010-2012. The candidates running against Sfar (pictured) bidding to lead 11.5 million Tunisians include the president of LGBTIQ+ group Association Shams .
He's said he wants to provide equality for gay people in the country.
'After long years in the fight for minority right, I have understood that no one can do the job better than me' he told local media.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/worl...2InrZJWmaZH72gyrDVajiyOcGdjskOJFywFl4u-EMBgGo
Am I the only one who thinks she looks like she's in her late 30's, early 40's?!
