But none of the establishment candidates  who included current Prime Minister Youssef Chahed  former Defence Minister Abdelkarim Zbidi and the deputy leader of the Muslim Brotherhood's Ennahda party  which is part of Chahed's coalition  Abdelfattah Mourou  polled enough votes to make it to the run-off (AC Vol 58 No 1  A coalition of hope)...
	 
    
    
    
    
        
	
	     Abdelkarim Zbidi  the immediate past Minister of Defence  who was close to Essebsi  is seen by many as the man most likely to become the next president – or at least was  before the Karoui bombshell (AC Vol 60 No 16  New faces  old enmities)...
	 
    
    
    
    
        
	
	     The smart money is on Defence Minister Abdelkarim Zbidi to succeed President Béji Caïd Essebsi (BCE)  who died on 25 July...
	 
    
    
    
    
        
            Vol 52 No 25 | 
            - NORTH AFRICA
	     To that end  the government is expected to keep on the interim administration's internationally respected Finance Minister  Jalloul Ayed  and Banque centrale de Tunisie Governor Mustapha Kamel Nabli  as well as Defence Minister Abdelkrim Zbidi...