Candidates in the runoff local elections in Bardo (Ksar El Bourtal district) are Marouen Ben Chikha (244 votes in the first round) and Badii Jelassi (147 votes). While candidate Badii Jelassi will launch his campaign Friday, by making direct contact with voters to explain the objectives of his programme, his rival Marouen Ben Chikha has postponed his campaign until the beginning of next week "for professional reasons". The candidates' programmes are based on a common objective, namely to support young people, in particular by creating jobs through better use of state mechanisms and programmes. In a statement to TAP, the two candidates stressed the need to give serious consideration to the creation of communitarian enterprises in their Imada to help young people integrate into economic life and create small businesses. In his manifesto, Marouen Ben Chikha promised to help Imada's young people invest in communitarian enterprises as one of the most effective ways of integrating young people into economic li fe. He said he would work to support small and medium-sized enterprises by providing appropriate training and promoting the idea that entrepreneurs should take on some of the initiatives of the region's young people. He promised to find urgent solutions for needy families and people with special needs and to help them set up small businesses. He also considered it necessary to find a radical and definitive solution to the problem of cleanliness and environmental protection by drawing up local plans. The candidate devoted part of his manifesto to cultural issues, encouraging cultural participation. On the other hand, he addressed the issue of voter apathy, pointing out that voter turnout remains low. He noted that the Kasr El Bourtal constituency has around 3770 citizens, but only 570 voters participated in the first round. He called on voters in the constituency to go to the polls en masse in the runoff and "vote for the realistic programme capable of meeting their aspirations". The second candidate, Badii Jelassi, emphasised the slogan "tomorrow will be better" in his programme. In the field of culture and sport, he promised to organise a summer festival and create a multi-discipline sports club. In the area of health, he stressed the need to create a dispensary and a primary school in the region and to renovate the primary school in Kssar Said. The candidate also focused his campaign on the issue of public transport, promising to provide a transport network that meets the needs of the region's inhabitants. Badii Jelassi also raised a number of issues relating to the role of local councils, in particular the lack of a specific law clarifying the role and prerogatives of local councils. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse