Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Tunisia Chooses a President: Media Magnate or Law Professor

Associated Press

   TUNIS, TUNISIA - Tunisians are voting for president Sunday in an
   unusual contest pitting a populist tycoon who just got out of jail
   against a conservative professor backed by resurgent Islamists.

   The winner of Sunday's runoff vote will inherit a North African country
   struggling to overcome corruption, unemployment and sporadic extremist
   violence -- but proud of its still-budding, post-Arab Spring democracy.

   The choice for voters between two quirky candidates who have never held
   political office has made for an unprecedented election.

   The top performer in last month's first-round vote was 61-year-old Kais
   Saied, an enigmatic former constitutional law professor dubbed
   "Robocop" for his austere bearing.

   His challenger is Nabil Karoui, a glib, 56-year-old media mogul who
   spent most of the campaign behind bars on accusations of money
   laundering and tax evasion that he calls politically driven.

.