Brussels, 24/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Sunday 23 November, Tunisia voted for the first time in its history for a president of the Republic of Tunisia by universal suffrage.
This election follows the parliamentary elections of nearly a month ago, which mark the end of the transitional period. Voters in the parliamentary elections primarily supported (but not by absolute majority) the Nidaa Tounes (Tunisia's Call) movement - a broad platform in favour of a state governed by law and not by religious edicts. It is the candidate from this trend, Beji Caïd Essebsi, who according to the latest estimates seems to be in the lead in Sunday's presidential election. Essebsi will have to face off the outgoing (interim) president, Moncef Marzouki, in the second round of the presidential elections - with Marzouki having the implicit support of the Islamist Ennahda party.
According to various reports from civil society, foreign observers and the media, Sunday's ballot took place in relatively good conditions without any serious incidents. This is also what High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said, noting that the elections “were held calmly”. These elections “mark a further step in the democratic transition”, Mogherini said in her statement on Sunday. No stance was taken in October on the way the parliamentary ballot took place or on the results (especially the ebbing of the religious Ennahda party) signifying the rejection, through the vote, of a party of such religious obedience for the first time in the region's history.
The EU “fully supports the work of the Tunisian people in this direction, and deployed an election observation mission led by Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck MEP, which will give its view this Tuesday”, said Mogherini. “It is now for the Tunisians to complete the electoral process in transparency and respect”. The EU is “ready to continue supporting Tunisia in its efforts for the country's stability and economic and social development”.
The Council of Europe also hailed the way the presidential election took place in Tunisia. “The smooth conduct of the first round marks a new step in the democratic transition”, said Jean-Marie Bockel, who leads the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and observed the first round of the presidential election in Tunisia on Sunday. Elsewhere, the Council of Europe states that “some aspects of the electoral process should be improved, taking advantage of the expertise of the Venice Commission when appropriate” (our translation throughout). (FB)