But there have been two empty spaces left on the television stage – one for a candidate who is in jail awaiting trial and another for a presidential hopeful who is in exile.

Tunisia is used to breaking now ground in the North African and Arab world.

The television debates give an American flavour to the race to succeed President Bejii Caid Essebsi who died in July.

They’re being covered by 11 television channels and  20 radio stations that spearheaded  the 2011 Arab Spring that began in Tunisia.

Campaigning is reaching fever pitch despite some security fears on the country’s western border with Algeria where there has been a wave of violence by terror groups. 

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