Tunisia’s final election results confirmed the victory of an Islamist party, giving it a major say in the country’s new government and future constitution, the election commission announced Monday.
The final results for the Oct. 23 contests give the once-banned Ennahda Party 89 out of 217 seats, more than triple the next biggest vote getter. In polls described by international observers as free and fair, Tunisians elected an assembly that will write the fledgling democracy’s new constitution and appoint an interim government ahead of new elections in the next year or so.
Tunisia is known in the Arab world for its comparatively secular outlook and progressive legislation on women’s rights, but Ennahda triumphed through superior organization and a reputation for confronting the previous regime.
The elections were held nine months after Tunisians overthrew President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled with an iron fist for the past 23 years. Out of a potential electorate of 7.5 million voters, 54 percent participated in the election — pretty much all of those who had registered.
Full Article: Tunisia Issues Final Election Results – ABC News.
