Updated

Tunisia's largest political party has chosen an official of the old regime and a former interior minister as its candidate for prime minister and tasked him with forming a coalition to run the country.

Habib Essid occupied several posts under former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, including in the Interior Ministry, which manages the police.

In the aftermath of the revolution that overthrew Ben Ali in 2011, he held the post of interior minister in one of the transitional governments.

Essid's Nida Tunis Party won the most seats in parliament in October's elections but not a majority.

He now has a month to form a coalition with the other parties and present newly inaugurated President Beji Caid Essebsi with a Cabinet.