Landslide victory for Saied after low turnout

President Kais Saied achieved a decisive victory in Tunisia's election last week, solidifying his hold on power following a first term marked by the imprisonment of opponents and significant changes to the country's institutions that expanded his authority. Africanews reports that according to Farouk Bouaskar, the head of the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE), the voter turnout was recorded at 28.8%, with 2 808 548 votes cast from a total of 9 753 217 eligible voters. The authority also stated that Saied received 90.7% of the votes, just one day after exit polls suggested he had a considerable lead in the North African country, known as the origin of the Arab Spring more than a decade ago. Businessman Ayachi Zammel, the nearest competitor, garnered 7.4% of the vote despite spending most of the campaign in prison due to various sentences for election-related offenses. However, Saied's victory was overshadowed by a disappointing voter turnout. The 28.8% turnout was a stark decline compared to the first rounds of the country's previous two elections following the Arab Spring, reflecting widespread apathy. Saied's main rivals, who have been imprisoned since last year, were barred from participating, while lesser-known candidates faced imprisonment or exclusion from the ballot. Opposition parties chose to boycott the election, labelling it a farce amid Tunisia's worsening political situation and increasing authoritarianism.

Full africanews report