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By Tarek Amara
TUNIS, Jan 29 (Reuters) – Tunisia opened polling stations on Sunday for run-offs in a parliamentary election that drew solely 11% turnout within the first spherical final month, an final result critics of the president stated undermined his claims of public assist for sweeping political change.
With political events boycotting the vote, most candidates are independents and a focus is prone to deal with whether or not there will probably be greater participation than there was in December.
“I am not keen on elections that don’t concern me,” stated Nejib Sahli, 40, passing a polling station within the Hay Ettahrir district of Tunis shortly earlier than voting was as a result of start.
Contained in the polling station, a Reuters journalist stated no voters had appeared throughout the 20 minutes he spent there after polls formally opened.
President Kais Saied has decreed the brand new, principally powerless, parliament as a part of a reconfigured presidential system that he launched after shutting down the earlier parliament in 2021 and assuming broad management over the state.
Saied’s critics accuse him of searching for to dismantle the democratic system enacted after Tunisia’s 2011 revolution, which sparked the Arab Spring, they usually ridiculed December’s ultra-low turnout as proof that his adjustments lack standard assist.
At a restaurant in Ettahrir solely Mongi Layouni, one among seven males sitting consuming espresso, stated he would possibly vote.
“I do not know. Perhaps I’ll go later,” he stated. One other man sitting within the cafe, who gave his identify solely as Imad, stated he didn’t consider his vote mattered after Saied’s political adjustments.
“The president alone is deciding all the things,” he stated. “He doesn’t care about anyone and we don’t care about him and his elections”.
The president says his actions have been authorized and mandatory to avoid wasting Tunisia from years of financial stagnation and political disaster, and has accused his critics of treason, urging motion in opposition to them.
ECONOMIC CRISIS
A worsening financial disaster, that has precipitated shortages of some meals and medicines and led the federal government to hunt a global bailout, has added to widespread disillusionment with politics.
On Friday Moody’s credit score scores company downgraded Tunisian debt saying the nation would doubtless default on sovereign loans.
Below the earlier system, the parliament took the lead in selecting governments that set state coverage and dealt with the every day operating of the nation. The president was solely immediately chargeable for international affairs and defence.
Saied’s new guidelines make the parliament subservient to the president, who now takes the lead in forming or dismissing governments. The principles additionally cut back the position of political events, with parliamentary candidates listed solely by identify irrespective of their occasion affiliation.
Since December’s vote, state tv has elevated its deal with Sunday’s runoff votes together with by way of debates between candidates. The opposition has stated that is a part of an effort by the state to spice up turnout.
Of the 161 electoral districts, runoffs will probably be held on Sunday within the 131 for which no candidate received greater than half the votes in December. In a number of districts, just one candidate ran in any respect, they usually have every been elected to the brand new parliament.
Polls are open from 8 a.m. till 6 p.m. (0700 GMT-1700 GMT). (Reporting by Tarek Amara, writing by Angus McDowall; Modifying by Toby Chopra)
