Tunisia Heads to the Polls with a Fading Reputation as the Arab Spring’s Only Success Story
Tunisians voted on Sunday in an election expected to grant President Kais Saied a second term. His most prominent detractors, including one of his main rivals, Ayachi Zammel, were either jailed or barred from running. The election has been marred by concerns over fairness and the legitimacy of the process, with many opposition figures either imprisoned or boycotting the election altogether.
Saied’s presidency has been marked by controversy and widespread concerns over Tunisia’s faltering democracy. Despite his initial promise to transform Tunisia, his regime has taken heavy-handed steps, arresting political opponents, journalists, and civil society figures under charges of threatening state security or violating an anti-fake news law.
The country’s economic outlook remains bleak, with high unemployment and a dependence on international lenders like the IMF and EU. Saied’s refusal to implement required reforms, such as cutting subsidies on essential goods, has stalled talks for a $1.9 billion bailout package from the IMF.
The election saw a low turnout, with an exit poll projecting that Saied was set to win with 89.2% support from a turnout of less than 28%, the lowest recorded in a presidential election in Tunisia since its revolution in 2011. The results are expected to be confirmed early next week, with no runoff necessary if Saied’s victory holds.
