Tunisian FM on Upcoming Elections

Tunisia’s Foreign Minister, Mouldi Kefi, said on Friday that his government was ready for the upcoming elections scheduled on October 23.

"On the first of October the campaign is going to start. We hope that everybody will put aside their own egocentric and individualistic demands and look at the big picture,” he said.

In an interview with Associated Press, Kefi conveyed his hope for a new sense of national democracy and for the new administration to address security concerns.

"Every government is concerned when elections are coming. Even for long standing democracies let alone a new born democracy like ours. Yes, there is some concern from the security forces, from the people themselves, but we are counting on the wisdom of the Tunisian people, of the Tunisian electorate, of the Tunisian citizens, men and women, to give not only the Tunisian people but the whole international community who have their eyes on our experience. As I said it will probably going to be a bell weather model for the others," he said.

The elections will be the first since the national uprising began which saw the ouster of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, in January, and heralded the Arab Spring in the region.

"If the Tunisian experience takes root and succeeds, I'm sure in Egypt for instance, like the revolution started in Tunisia, democracy also will take root in Egypt and also in Libya. Because you know the wind of freedom knows no borders so hopefully the Tunisian experience - we hope - it will be a success story and it will spread to our neighbours as well," he said.

Kefi urged international parties to assist Tunisia in dealing with new challenges the country would face, including salvaging its economy which has suffered since the unrest began, and re-employing nearly seven million residents.

Speaker:

Mouldi Kefi - Tunisian FM