Tunisian President Kais Saied is likely to win the presidential election with 89.2 percent of the vote according to an exit poll, following a voter turnout of 28 percent. Facing limited opposition due to imprisonments and disqualifications of candidates, Saied’s victory reinforces his controversial grip on power after a series of actions deemed undemocratic. The official election results are expected from the ISIE on Monday evening.
According to an exit poll released by state television, Tunisia’s current President, Kais Saied, is poised to secure a significant victory in the presidential election, receiving approximately 89.2 percent of the votes cast. This election saw a voter turnout of around 28 percent. Saied’s victory would reinforce his position following his consolidation of power three years prior. The Independent High Authority for Elections of Tunisia (ISIE) is set to announce the official results on Monday evening. Saied, aged 66, faced two opponents in this election: Zouhair Maghzaoui, a leader of the Chaab Party and former ally of Saied, and Ayachi Zammel, a businessman considered a potential threat to Saied’s re-election until his recent imprisonment. The exit poll indicated that Maghzaoui secured 3.9 percent of the vote, while Zammel received 6.9 percent. Despite initial expectations of a turnout around 30 percent, the ISIE reported a voter engagement of 27.7 percent. Prominent opposition figures from Tunisia’s various political parties have experienced imprisonment under a range of charges and have not publicly endorsed any candidates in the election. Notably, Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of the opposition Ennahda party, remains incarcerated. According to human rights organizations, since his election in 2019, President Saied has systematically rolled back the democratic advancements that followed the 2011 Arab Spring, a move widely regarded as detrimental to Tunisia’s political landscape. In response to such criticisms, Saied maintains that his actions are focused on combating corruption and eliminating threats from the political elite. Tensions escalated as the electoral commission, appointed by Saied, disqualified three candidates prior to the election amid widespread protests from opposition groups and civil society organizations. Concurrently, Tunisia is facing economic challenges characterized by sluggish growth, rampant inflation, and high unemployment rates that have triggered additional public dissent. Recently, Saied’s loyal lawmakers curtailed the authority of the administrative court regarding electoral disputes. This court is regarded as the last bastion of independent judicial oversight after Saied dismantled the Supreme Judicial Council and dismissed numerous judges in 2022. In a significant escalation of his authority, Saied dissolved the elected parliament and revised the constitution in 2021, an act that critics described as a coup d’état. This new constitution was subsequently approved in a referendum marked by a mere 30 percent voter turnout, and the January run-off for the newly established parliament resulted in an even lower turnout of only 11 percent.
This article discusses the recent presidential election in Tunisia, highlighting the electoral landscape shaped by contentious political dynamics and the history of President Kais Saied’s rule. Following the 2011 Arab Spring, Tunisia underwent significant political transformation, but these advancements have faced setbacks under Saied’s administration since his election in 2019. The political climate has been characterized by the imprisonment of opposition leaders, disqualifications of candidates, and a public disillusioned with the electoral process amid ongoing economic hardships, raising concerns over the future of democracy in the nation.
In summary, the exit poll suggests a decisive win for President Kais Saied in the Tunisian presidential election, echoing concerns about the erosion of democratic principles in the country. The political opposition remains fragmented and hindered by ongoing repression, while economic challenges persist. The announcement of official results by the ISIE will be pivotal in understanding the political trajectory of Tunisia amidst these pervasive challenges.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
