More than 80 percent of Tunisian Jews who are eligible to vote have registered to do so and some may choose an Islamist party, a well-known member of the community said.

Rene Trabelsi, a businessman and son of a leader of Tunisia’s Jewish community of 2,500 people, made the assertion in an interview published earlier this week by the Anadolu news agency ahead of the country’s Oct. 26 parliamentary elections and the presidential race next month.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“There are no objections to selecting a political party with an Islamic background, such as Ennahda,” Trabelsi said in reference to Tunisia’s former ruling party, which stepped down last year as a temporary government proceeded to draft a new constitution ahead of the vote.

“Regardless of ideological or religious considerations, we will support the party that presents a suitable economic program,” added Trabelsi, who according to some reports recently turned down an offer to become the country’s tourism minister. He noted that many Tunisian Jews had voted for Ennahda in the 2011 elections.

The 2011 elections followed the ousting from power of former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in a revolution that triggered several other upheavals throughout the Arab-speaking world.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount