Rached Ghannouchi, the founder of the moderate Islamist Ennahda party in Tunisia, has been presented by his party as the number one candidate for the next parliamentary elections scheduled to hold in October.

Why Ghannouchi?

Explaining their choice, Imed Khmiri, an Ennahda party official told Reuters that: “The decision to present Ghannouchi at the top of the party’s electoral list in Tunisia, is to have leaders of parties play a more important role at this crucial stage in the history of the democratic transition in Tunisia.” According to him, Ghannouchi’s candidacy can result in his becoming prime minister or speaker of parliament, if his party wins.

A Brief History of Heroism.

After being arrested and tortured several times for establishing a movement that advocated for the reconstruction of economic life and the end of single-party politics, Ghannouchi left Tunisia for London on Political exile in 1988.

He returned to Tunisia on January 30, 2011, to a very large reception, after which his party won 37.04% of the vote in that year’s Constituent Assembly Elections, even though he did not personally run for any position at the time.

He can best be described as a secularist as his commitment is to see a democratic system maintained in Tunisia and his alliances with President BeliCaid Essebsi, the 92-year-old Secular leader of Tunisia.

Who Else is in the Race?

Tahya Tounes party of Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, the Nidaa Tounes party, led by Hafedh Caid Essebsi, the president’s son and the Courant Democrate party are expected to contest in the parliamentary election alongside the Ennahda party. Tunisia remains the only democratic success of the Arab Spring uprisings, with a new constitution, free elections and a coalition government.

Parliamentary elections are expected to hold on October 6 and a presidential vote will follow on November 17.

Since the 2011 Revolution, this will be the the third set of polls in which Tunisians can vote freely.