Tunisian presidential candidate Zouhair Maghzaoui told Sputnik he intends to expand ties with Arab and African nations, as well as the BRICS bloc if elected, to revive the country's economy.

"The Tunisian foreign policy has long been hostage to ties with its traditional partners, mainly the European Union. These relations are rooted in the [European] hegemony, and this needs change," Maghzaoui said.

"We believe that the world has become a bigger place, and we should expand relations and become more open to rising global powers, such as Russia, China, Brazil, BRICS and other organizations, which can help the Tunisian economy recover," he added.

The Tunisian lawmaker and former leader of the People's Movement political party expressed his concern regarding the North African nation having embassies in only six African countries and lacking direct air connection to many others.

"We will make it our priority to expand Tunisia's foreign contacts and to review the existing international relations, which we consider unfair ... for example, the migration agreement with Italy or the agreement on ‘green hydrogen’ production with France," he asserted. 

He vowed to initiate ties with African and Arab countries if he achieves victory in the upcoming presidential elections, which will be held on October 6, where he will face sitting president Kais Saied and businessman Ayachi Zammel.

Tunisia's public prosecutor ordered detention of Zammel ahead of trial

The Tunisian public prosecutor ordered the detention of presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel pending a trial, Reuters reported on September 4. 

Tunisian police detained Zammel on allegations of falsifying campaign details for the upcoming election, his team confirmed on September 2.

Zammel, who is one of three approved candidates for the October 6 election this year, was taken into custody at a police station outside Tunis, campaigner Mahdi Abdeljaouad told Mosaique FM radio.

Zammel's candidacy was approved by Tunisia's electoral commission on September 2, along with the candidacies of President Kais Saied and Zouhair Magzhaoui.

Abdeljaouad indicated that Zammel is accused of "falsifying" the endorsement signatures mandated by Tunisian law to demonstrate sufficient support for his candidacy.

"The matter has become absurd and aims to exclude [Zammel] him from the election," Abdeljaouad also told Reuters.

Last month, the treasurer of Zammel's Azimoun party was also arrested and is scheduled for trial on September 13. To qualify for the ballot, candidates must submit a list of endorsements from either 10,000 registered voters, 10 parliamentarians, or 40 local officials.

Several prospective candidates have faced accusations of forging these signatures.