Kais Saied Positioned for Presidential Election Victory in Tunisia
Kais Saied appears set to win Tunisia’s presidential election with 89.2 percent of the vote according to an exit poll, amidst a voter turnout of only 27.7 percent. Saied’s reign follows a power seize and faces opposition from jailed figures. Concerns over democratic erosions under his leadership contribute to a politically tense environment as the country grapples with economic issues.
Kais Saied, the incumbent President of Tunisia, is poised to secure victory in the presidential election with 89.2 percent of the votes, according to an exit poll broadcasted on state television. This outcome consolidates Saied’s authority following a controversial power acquisition three years prior. The Independent High Authority for Elections of Tunisia (ISIE) is scheduled to release the official election results on Monday evening. In this election, Saied, age 66, faced two opponents: Zouhair Maghzaoui, a former ally turned critic and leader of the Chaab Party, and Ayachi Zammel, a businessman previously considered a significant threat to Saied’s re-election until his incarceration last month. Per the exit poll, Maghzaoui received 3.9 percent of the vote, while Zammel garnered 6.9 percent. Voter turnout was documented at 27.7 percent, slightly below the expected target of 30 percent as conveyed by ISIE spokesman Mohamed Tlili Mansri. It is noteworthy that many prominent figures from Tunisia’s major political parties, which predominantly oppose Saied’s administration, have either faced imprisonment or have not endorsed any of the candidates. Among these figures is Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Ennahda party, which played a dominant role in Tunisian politics following the 2011 “Arab Spring” protests that led to the ousting of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Rights organizations have raised concerns that since Saied’s election in 2019, he has been systematically dismantling the democratic advancements achieved post-revolution. In response to such critiques, Saied has maintained that his measures are aimed at combating a corrupt elite and addressing the actions of traitorous individuals. Political tensions escalated in the lead-up to the election when an electoral commission appointed by Saied disqualified three candidates, which incited further protests from opposition and civil society groups. Concurrently, Tunisia grapples with sluggish economic progress, persistent inflation, and rising unemployment, which have led to unrest. In a preceding development, lawmakers aligned with Saied retracted the administrative court’s jurisdiction over electoral disputes, potentially undermining the last vestiges of independent judicial authority in the country. This court had maintained its status following Saied’s 2021 dissolution of the elected parliament and subsequent rewriting of the constitution, actions that numerous opposition figures labeled as a coup. The revised constitution was subjected to a referendum that witnessed a meager participation rate of 30 percent, while only 11 percent of voters engaged in the January elections held under this newly constructed system.
In recent years, Tunisia has faced significant political turbulence following the events of the Arab Spring, which saw the resignation of longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011. This period ushered in a fraught transition towards democracy, marred by economic challenges and increasing political discontent. President Kais Saied, who first assumed power in 2019, has since taken steps perceived by many as undemocratic, including dissolving the parliament and rewriting the constitution, raising alarms about the reversal of democratic gains in the nation. The current election, amidst a backdrop of economic difficulties and social unrest, highlights the growing rift between Saied’s administration and the opposition, many of whom face imprisonment. The proposed reforms and policies by Saied’s government continue to elicit mixed responses within the populace, further complicating the political landscape ahead of the election results.
The preliminary exit poll indicates a decisive victory for President Kais Saied in the presidential election, with significant support from the electorate despite a low voter turnout. The upcoming official announcement of results by the ISIE will likely confirm this trend, amidst a political climate fraught with contention and a backdrop of economic instability. Saied’s administration continues to face criticism for perceived authoritarian practices and the erosion of democratic institutions, as opposition figures remain sidelined due to imprisonment or disqualification. This election will be pivotal in determining the future trajectory of Tunisia’s governance and political integrity.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
