Supporters of Tunisian President Kais Saied started celebrating in the capital, Tunis, on Sunday, October 6 at night after a state television announced an exit poll indicating his victory over two opponents, one of whom is currently imprisoned
He competed against his former ally, Chaab Party leader Zouhair Maghzaoui, who has become a critic and Ayachi Zammel, who was jailed last month.
The election commission reported a voter turnout of 27.7%, which is only half of what it was during the runoff of the 2019 presidential election.
Official results are not expected until Monday, October 7 in the evening.
However, an exit poll from the Sigma polling agency indicated that Saied is leading with 89.2% of the votes.
In his first comment, the President said , “this is a continuation of the revolution.
“We will build and will cleanse the country of the corrupt, traitors and conspirators.”
Zammel and Maghzaoui’s campaigns dismissed the exit poll results, asserting that the actual outcomes would be different.
On Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis,Tunisia, supporters displayed images of Saied and waved the Tunisian flag while chanting, ‘The people want to build and develop.’
“We rejoice for a person because he served the state and not for his own benefit, he serves for the benefit of the people and the state”, a Tunisian man said as he was celebrating.
For years, Tunisia was regarded as the only notable success from the 2011 ‘Arab Spring’ uprisings, having established a competitive, albeit imperfect, democracy after decades of authoritarian rule.
Rights groups are now stating that Saied, who has been in power since 2019, has reversed many democratic advancements and eliminated institutional and legal constraints on his authority.
The 66 year old President has dismissed criticisms of his actions, claiming he is combating a corrupt elite and traitors, insisting he will not become a dictator.
Prominent members of the largest opposing parties have been jailed on various charges over the past year and these parties have not publicly supported any of the three candidates on the ballot for Sunday, October 6.
Additionally, other opponents have been prevented from participating in the elections.
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