President Zine El Abidine announces acceptance to run again for office

Tunis, 28 July 2004 -- President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali announced today he will heed calls to run again for office during the 2004 presidential elections.

Addressing the national congress of the Democratic Constitutional Rally (majority party), the Tunisian head of state proclaimed, « with great pride I say: Yes, I will be your candidate to the 2004 presidential elections ».

President Ben Ali explained that his acceptance to be a candidate for the office of President comes in response to the great number of calls he's been receiving from various citizen groups so that he runs for a new term. « I am deeply moved by and proud of the great confidence expressed by our people, women and men of all ages, with its various organizations and
associations, since the Change of November 7th, 1987, in all elections, in the latest popular referendum as well as in the last session of the RCD Central Committee, and the endorsements following it, expressed by RCD federations and cells. »

He added, « as an illustration of our faithfulness to our glorious people and our dear country, and as an expression of our commitment to the sacred duty for which the Party activists, freedom-fighters and martyrs had struggled, and in response to the requests by all Tunisians, men and women, from all social categories, generations and regions, I tell you with all pride : I am always with you, faithful to my commitment, and with great pride I say: Yes, I will be your candidate to the 2004 presidential elections. »

In anticipation of next elections, scheduled for October 2004, new reforms have been introduced by President Ben Ali to facilitate pluralism of candidacies to the office of President.

Full text of speech