President Beji Caid Essebsi of Tunisia has said he would not seek re-election this November, despite calls for him to run.
Essebsi, who is 92-years informed members of his ruling Nidaa Tounes party that someone younger should take over.
Mr Essebsi won the presidential poll in 2014 and his party has called for him to run for a second term.
His predecessor, Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali was ousted during the Arab Spring uprisings across the region in 2011, after 23 years in office.
Tunisia was the only country from the uprising to have a democracy.
Declining the call to run for president again, Essebsi said it was time to “open the door to the youth”.
He also urged his party to end its feud with Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, who split from the government and formed his own party.
Presidential elections are scheduled for 17 November, although none of the main political parties have yet announced a candidate.
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