Tunisia postponed yesterday its first election following the ouster of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali by three months to October 23 in a bid to ensure the vote is free and transparent.

The interim government agreed to a request from the electoral commission to delay the poll that had been expected in July, saying the country had a “reputation to protect”.

“We have taken into account all the views and have decided to hold the elections on October 23,” caretaker Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi told a meeting of political parties, regional representatives and civil society.

“The most important thing is the transparency of the elections,” he said adding that the choice was between delaying the vote and maintaining the commission, or insisting on the July poll and relying on the interior ministry to organise the election, as under the Ben Ali regime. a postponement to October 16, saying it needed more time to organise a credible and transparent vote.