His opponent Kaïs Saïed is among those who have said keeping Karoui behind bars jeopardizes the credibility of the the election.

Nabil Karoui has made several unsuccessful bail applications since being detained in August. 

Nevertheless he ran second to Kaïs Saïed in the presidential poll.

Last Sunday his Heart of Tunisia party was second to Ennahda in the  parliamentary election.

Former Mauritian President Cassam Uteem, who headed the observer team of the Electoral Commission for a Sustainable Democracy  in Africa, called for Karoui to be allowed to participate farly.

Whether he will appreciably improve his performance after being released remains to be seen.

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Leader of EISA team, former Mauritian President Cassam Uteem says jailed television mogul Nabil Kasroui should be allowed to participate fully in the Presidential run-off election next Sunday.

Cassam Uteem congratulates the government, the electoral commission, the parties and people of Tunisia for hold a parliamentary election that reflects the will of the nation.

The former Mauritian President expresses concern about the low turnout that kept 58% of the seven million registered voters away from the poll.

And he makes a call ahead of Sunday’s Presidential run-off.

“We have asked the authorities in the name of equal opportunity to allow Nabil Karoui to participate fully in the Presidential run-off poll,” he said

Karoui is awaiting trial on tax evasion and money laundering charges.

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The Johannesburg based organization shared international observation of the Tunisia poll with the European Union and the Carter Center.

Former Mauritian President Cassam Uteem, who headed the EISA observer mission in Tunisia has glowing praise for the poll.

“We consider that this has been one of the best elections that we have been given to observe,” says Uteem. “Personally, if Imay speak for myself, this has been one of the best elections that we have observed so far.”

He says more needs to be done to motivate young people to become involved in the democratic process.

By staying away in droves, disenchanted with the country’s stagnating economy, young people drove the participation in the Tunisia’s second democratic election below 50 percent.

No single candidate among the 26 contestants is expected to emerge with an outright majority, meaning Tunisians will vote in a run-off election next month. 

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