Moncef Marzouki vs Serdar Berdimuhamedow

Marzouki founded the Congress for the Republic (CPR) party as a secular, left-leaning opposition movement. The party was banned under President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, forcing Marzouki into exile in France.

Following the Tunisian Revolution, the Constituent Assembly elected Moncef Marzouki as President of Tunisia. He became the first democratically elected president in the country's history, serving from 2011 to 2014.

Marzouki oversaw the adoption of a new constitution, which established a mixed presidential-parliamentary system, guaranteed human rights, and enshrined gender equality. The constitution was widely praised as a model for the Arab world.

Marzouki lost the presidential runoff to Beji Caid Essebsi, receiving 44.3% of the vote. This marked the first peaceful democratic transfer of power in Tunisia's history.

Serdar was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for Innovation and Digitalization, a position that placed him in the line of succession. This was part of his father's effort to groom him for the presidency.

Serdar was appointed Minister of Industry and Construction, a key economic portfolio. This further consolidated his role in the government and provided him with administrative experience before his eventual presidency.

Serdar was elected as a member of the People's Council (Halk Maslahaty), the highest representative body. This move further integrated him into the state's power structure ahead of his presidential bid.

Serdar Berdimuhamedow won the presidential election with 73% of the vote, succeeding his father Gurbanguly. The election was widely criticized as neither free nor fair, with no genuine opposition candidates allowed, effectively establishing a dynastic succession.