Tagged:

Tunisian President Saied Set for Landslide Victory in Election

Tunisian supporters of incumbent President Kais Saied celebrated in the capital after state television broadcast an exit poll showing him beating his two rivals, one of whom was imprisoned.

According to exit polls broadcast on national television after polls closed, Saied will win the presidential election with 89.2%.

He faced two rivals - Zouhair Maghzaoui, a former ally who turned to critic, and Ayachi Zammel, who was imprisoned last month. Zammel and Maghzaoui both rejected the exit poll results because their campaigns expected different results.

Political tensions have risen since an electoral commission appointed by Sayed disqualified three prominent candidates last month, leading to protests by opposition and civil society organizations. Opposition groups fear Saied's re-election will only further entrench his intolerance of dissent after removing institutional and legal checks on his power.

InFocus

MonicaLMarks/X

Official results are not expected until Monday evening but an exit poll by Sigma company, a polling agency, showed Saied in the lead with 89.2 percent of votes, according to state television.

Follow AllAfrica

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.