Half of Tunisians favour Essebsi as presidential candidate

About half of Tunisians support Beji Caid Essebsi to run for presidency, a survey said Friday. The survey, carried out by Tunisie Sondages institute, showed that 50 percent of Tunisians support Essebsi's candidacy, while 43 percent oppose it. Last week, the 87-year-old former transitional prime minister announced that he had decided to run for the next presidential election. Some of the voters, however, expressed concerns over Essebsi's old age. Over the past three decades, Essebsi has served as minister of the interior, the defense and foreign affairs, as well as prime minister of the provisional government. Another survey released last week by a different polling company showed that Essebsi is the favorite among presidential candidates, ahead of former prime minister Hamadi Jebali and current President Moncef Marzouki.