In Tunisia, the body in charge of organizing the presidential election announced, this Monday, October 7, the victory of outgoing President Kaïs Saïed, with 90.7% of the votes. Isie also indicated the participation rate of 28.8%, the highest abstention rate since the advent of democracy in 2011. The two other candidates, Ayachi Zammel and Zouhair Maghzaoui obtained respectively 7.35 % and 1.97% of the votes, according to Isie.
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With our correspondent in Tunis, Amira Souilem
Isie, in front of an audience of journalists and observers, announced the provisional figures: 90.69% very precisely for Kaïs Saïed, the outgoing president is therefore re-elected. This is very slightly more than he was given credit for. a survey, carried out by a private institute and broadcast on national televisionSunday evening which gave Kaïs Saïed the winner with 89.2%.
A figure therefore higher and symbolically strong since the 90% mark has been exceeded. We will quickly recall that several candidates who wished to participate in the vote were prevented from doing so, that there were two candidates facing President Saïd, one of whom was imprisoned, but no matter, the anticipated plebiscite took place. .
Supporters of the Tunisian president did not wait for the preliminary results to express their joy. Horns and ululations were heard in the center of Tunis on Sunday evening when the first poll was made public. Hundreds of Tunisians came down to celebrate the victory of Kaïs Saïed who joined them.
He was welcomed there to the sound of slogans like “the people demand Kaïs again “.
Portrayed as a hyperpresident, even as a dictator, Kaïs Saïed, who seized full powers in 2021, nevertheless continues to be popular in Tunisia. We feel it on the ground. Many support him.
This former legal assistant with almost mechanical speech is perceived as an upright man, with integrity and above all as a barrier against the return of the old political elite resulting from the revolution and in particular against the Islamists of Ennahdha. This may seem paradoxical, but by voting for Kaïs Saïed on Sunday, many Tunisians had the impression of voting for sanctions.
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