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Essebsi claims the lead in Tunisia

November 23, 2014

Tunisia's official presidential election outcome is unknown, but the campaign team of former premier Beji Caid Essebsi claims he has a "large lead." His rival, incumbent President Moncef Marouki, is among 27 candidates.

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Wahlen in Tunesien
Image: picture alliance/abaca/F. Nicolas

Tunisians wearied by 3 years of political and economic turmoil since the overthrow of dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, awaited the official outcome of their first-round presidential election late on Sunday.

Official results were expected by Tuesday, but already Essebsi's campaign manager Mohsen Marzouk claimed in Tunis that the 87-year-old veteran politician was "not far short" of the absolute majority.

Beji Caid Essebsi
Essebsi's team claims he is aheadImage: picture-alliance/dpa

Marzouk added, however, that a second round was likely. If so, a run-off vote would be held at the end of December.

Marzouki tipped too

The campaign team for incumbent President Marzouki, who was seeking re-election, claimed that he too would get through to a second round, but gave no polling figures.

Party observers at polling stations were reportedly allowed to oversee preliminary counts.

Incumbent Marzouki cast his vote hear the city of Sousse, south of Tunis. He had previously said that only he could preserve the gains of Tunisia's 2011 popular uprising against Ben Ali's one-party rule.

Sunday's vote followed Tunisia's parliamentary election in October when Essebsi's secularist Nidaa Tounes party won the most seats.

Polling without 'serious violations'

Long queues seen during October's election were not seen on Sunday at most polling stations.

The head of Tunisia's election commission, Shafiq Sarsar, said polling had run smoothly, without "serious violations."

The turnout had reached nearly 54 percent - among the 5.2 million eligible voters - by late afternoon, Sarsar said.

Ennahda avoids direct candidacy

Tunisia's new Nidaa Tounes government took over from the Islamist party Ennahda which did not put up a candidate.

Instead, Ennahda invited its members to pick a president who would "guarantee democracy," without endorsing any specific runners.

Tunisia's new government has already launched a crackdown on Islamist militants linked to al Qaeda. It's also facing demands from international lenders to reform public spending to boost growth and create jobs.

ipj/msh (dpa, Reuters, AFP)