President Zine El -Abidine explained that his acceptance to be a candidate again comes in response to the great number of calls he’d been receiving from various citizen groups. "I am deeply moved by and proud of the great confidence expressed by our people, women and men of all ages, with its various organisations and associations."

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 the elections scheduled for October 2004, new reforms have been introduced by the President to facilitate pluralism of candidacies.

Tunisia’s majority party sets a minimum ratio of women candidates to elected office. The Democratic Constitutional Rally, Tunisia’s governing party (RCD), will from the next election make sure that women constitute at least 25 per cent of its candidates to legislative and municipal council seats.