- Title: Tunisian candidate Jomaa promises "positive diplomacy", better services
- Date: 6th September 2019
- Summary: TUNIS, TUNISIA (FILE - AUGUST 4, 2019) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CROWD SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM AT CANDIDACY EVENT WHERE JOMAA ANNOUNCED INTENTION TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT JOMAA SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM ON STAGE, TUNISIAN FLAG ON SCREEN IN BACKGROUND
- Embargoed: 20th September 2019 09:19
- Keywords: Mehdi Jomma Election in Tunisia Politics Tunisia Campaigning
- Location: TUNIS, TUNISIA
- City: TUNIS, TUNISIA
- Country: Tunisia
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA002AVISKEV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:PART QUALITY AS INCOMING
Adopting a policy of neutrality toward the Arab region, improving security and economic conditions for millions of Tunisians are top priorities for former Tunisian prime minister and presidential candidate Mehdi Jomaa.
Speaking at a press conference in the Tunisian capital on Tuesday (September 3), Jomaa announced his programme that he promises to implement should he win the presidential elections scheduled to take place on September 15.
"We support a type of diplomacy championing neutrality and not entering any (political) axis, positive neutrality where (Tunisia) is a mediator for peace and goodwill," Jomaa told reporters.
He also promised improving economic conditions, especially for those working in the security sector, as well as for women and other marginalised sectors in society.
Jomaa runs as the candidate for his Tunisian Alternative Party in the September 15 election, which was brought forward from November following former President Beji Caid Essebsi's passing.
Jomaa led a technocratic government in 2014, a year that ended with free elections and a new constitution seen as key steps following the 2011 overthrow of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Tunisia was the birthplace of the "Arab Spring" protests that swept the Middle East and North Africa in 2011, and the only country where those revolts were followed by a peaceful transition to democracy. However, it remains mired in a severe economic crisis that has fuelled social discontent.
(Production: Zoubeir Souissi, Mai Shams El-Din) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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