Abdelkarim Zbidi, 69 -years- old, born in Rejiche (a coastal city, south of Monastir) is a candidate supported by Nidaa Tounes but perceived as independent by the public opinion. A doctor by training, he is the Tunisian Defence Minister since 2017, a portfolio he had already held from 2011 to 2013. In 2018 he wished to resign but Essebsi asked him to remain in the Government. Zbidi and PM Chahed are targeting the same electorate and during the campaign the former repeatedly criticized the results of the latter. On 5 September, he presented his political programme that includes the proposal to introduce a constitutional reform in order to change the semi-presidential system (a cause of the political instability according to him) and replace it by a system whereby the executive power would be concentrated in the hands of a single person.