Tunisians vote in third presidential election since Arab Spring

6 October 2024, 22:54

A Tunisian voter casts her ballot at a polling station
Tunisia Election. Picture: PA

President Kais Saied faces few obstacles to winning re-election after riding an anti-establishment backlash to a first term.

Voter apathy has dominated Tunisia’s presidential election, with a turnout of under 30% in the country’s third presidential ballot since becoming the first nation to topple a dictator in last decade’s Arab Spring.

Though results had yet to be announced on Sunday evening, there was little suspense about the result.

Supporters of President Kais Saied gathered in Tunis, waving his portrait after public television released figures from a polling firm showing Mr Saied steamrolling the two little-known opponents approved to run against him with a more than 89% of the votes.

The president’s brother, Naoufel Saied, said after exit polls were released that the result reflected “the high degree of confidence Tunisians have in Kais Saied” and guaranteed the country’s stability.

Tunisian President and candidate for re-election Kais Saied and his wife outside a polling station in Tunis
Tunisian president and candidate for re-election Kais Saied attended a polling station in the capital Tunis with his wife (Anis Mili/AP)

Official results are not expected until Monday.

Though Mr Saied’s supporters honked and celebrated in Tunis’ main thoroughfares, earlier in the day there were few signs that an election was even under way.

The mood was a pronounced departure from the country’s past two presidential elections – Tunisia’s first contested races in decades.

At the time polling stations closed, only 2.7 million voters – 27.7% of the electorate – had cast ballots. That is far fewer than the 49% who participated in the first round of the last presidential race in 2019.

Tunisian presidential candidate Zouhair El Maghzaoui, meets Tunis residents during his campaign tour
Tunisian presidential candidate Zouhair El Maghzaoui meets Tunis residents during his campaign tour (Anis Mili/AP)

Mr Saied, a 66-year-old former law professor who rode anger against the North African country’s post-Arab Spring political class to a first term, is expected to easily win the election with his opponents from across the political spectrum languishing in prison.

Dozens of candidates had expressed interest in challenging him and 17 submitted preliminary paperwork to run in Sunday’s race.

However, members of the election commission, all of whom are appointed by the president, approved only three – Mr Saied, businessman Ayachi Zammel and former parliamentarian Zouhair Maghzaoui.

Mr Zammel has since been imprisoned and charged with violating election laws and Mr Maghzaoui is a former supporter of the president.

Supporters of the Kais Saied in Ariana, Tunisia
Supporters of President Kais Saied in Ariana (Anis Mili/AP)

Mr Saied’s first term has been tumultuous. While the economy struggled, he in 2021 invoked emergency powers, suspended Tunisia’s parliament and rewrote the country’s constitution to give the presidency additional powers.

Though it is difficult to gauge the depth of his support, his backers have remained loyal, giving him time to complete his political programme to build a “New Tunisia”.

Much of the opposition chose to boycott the election, calling it a sham due to what they called an “authoritarian drift”.

Some voters in Tunis, however, said it was a duty to participate.

Tunisians take part in a protest against President Kais Saied ahead of the upcoming elections in Tunis last month
Tunisians take part in a protest against President Kais Saied in the capital last month ahead of the upcoming election (Anis Mili/AP)

Khaled Lamsi, a 50-year-old taxi driver, called voting “a national obligation”.

“I want the new president who will be elected to do good things for our country and for our children, and their future, and our lives,” he said.

“To not vote is not a solution. On the contrary, the people must come out and vote to show that the Tunisian people participate in these elections and Tunisia can be better over the next five years,” said 39-year-old Alaeddine Jawadi.

Voter turnout was less than 12% in 2022’s parliamentary elections.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Footage showed the pair tumble down the flight of stairs before Kanjo grips the woman’s necklaces

WATCH: Moment Syrian asylum seeker pushes 91-year-old down stairs after violent mugging

Karam Kanjo, 26, was captured on CCTV assaulting the elderly woman

Fury in Sweden after Syrian asylum seeker pushes 91-year-old down stairs after violently mugging her

The 'skip forward' voyage will last up to four years.

Cruise company offers four-year 'skip forward' voyage for Americans to avoid Donald Trump's presidency

Millions of Brits fell silent to honour the fallen on Monday.

'We will remember them': Nation falls silent as millions of Brits remember the fallen for Armistice Day

Keir Starmer has attended Armistice Day events in Paris

Starmer becomes first British leader since Churchill to attend Armistice Day ceremony in France

Putin and Trump in 2019

Putin has 'no plans' to speak to Trump, as Kremlin slams claims that US urged Russia not to escalate Ukraine war

Joe Biden stumbled as he went on a seaside walk with his wife Jill.

WATCH: Moment 81-year-old Joe Biden stumbles on sandy beach during seaside getaway

Donald Trump is a vocal supporter of Bitcoin

Bitcoin soars to record high after Trump election victory

Toys of the new Wicked film have been sending fans to an adult film site.

Toy company Mattel apologizes after Wicked toy boxes link to porn website

Fighting broke out in Amsterdam on Thursday night

'We will not allow sporting events to be hijacked': UK government responds to Israeli warning after Amsterdam violence

Donald Trump has reportedly held a phone call with Putin

Donald Trump 'urges Putin not to escalate Ukraine war' in phone call with Russian leader

Fighting broke out in Amsterdam on Thursday night

Netanyahu warns Israelis to not attend events in UK over intel about pro-Palestinian attacks

The teenage girl was crashed into by a paraglider in Turkey

More than £20k raised for British teen left fighting for life in Turkey after paraglider crashed into her

Ukraine and Russia have launched their biggest strikes against one another since the war began

Russia and Ukraine launch major drone strikes on each other as the conflict between the two countries intensifies

The teenage girl was crashed into by a paraglider in Turkey

'I thought she was dead': British teen left fighting for life in Turkey after paraglider crashes into her on family holiday

FBI investigating racist 'cotton picking' texts sent anonymously to black citizens across the US

FBI investigating racist 'cotton picking' texts sent anonymously to black citizens across the US