Tunisians begin polling in first free elections
Voters — women with headscarves and without, former political prisoners, young people whose Facebook posts helped fuel the revolution — are electing members of an assembly that will appoint a new government and then write a new constitution. They’re definitively turning the page on the 23-year presidency of Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, who was overthrown by a mont-long uprising on January 14 stirred by anger at unemployment, corruption and repression.
The party expected to come out on top, Ennahda, is a moderate Islamic party whose victory, especially in a comparatively secular society like Tunisia, could have wide implications for similar religious parties in the region. The unexpected revolution in this quiet Mediterranean country — cherished by European tourists for its sandy beaches and desert oases — set off a series of similar uprisings against entrenched leaders, an event now being called the Arab Spring.
If Tunisia’s election produces an effective new government they will inspire pro-democracy advocates across the region, including in next-door Libya, where longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi was killed last week by rebel forces.
The campaign season has been marked by controversies over advertising, fears over society’s religious polarisation and concerns about voter apathy, but in the run-up to the vote a mood of optimism and excitement in the capital was palpable.
Soldiers were stationed in several areas to keep order, but as of mid-morning the election appeared calm.
There are 7.5 million potential voters, though only 4.4 million of them, or just under 60%, are actually registered. People can vote with their identity cards but only at certain stations, which some fear may cause confusion during the polls.
More than 5,000 foreign observers are monitoring the vote.
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