TUNISIA (Reuters) – Tunisia’s polling stations were silent in December’s first round of parliamentary elections with 11 percent of the vote in the first round, a result critics of the president said belied claims that he had popular support for political change.
With political parties opposed to voting, most candidates are independents and the focus will be on whether there will be a higher turnout than in December.
However, the Election Commission may use two different parameters for the second round of elections and will use Sunday’s figures for both general elections, which opponents say is aimed at inflating the numbers.
“I’m not interested in an election that doesn’t concern me,” said Najib Sahli, 40, as he passed a polling station in Tunis’ Hai Itahrir district shortly before voting began.
Political cartoons on world leaders
Inside the polling station, a Reuters reporter said that no voter was present 20 minutes after the polls officially opened.
President Qais Saeed has appointed the new, largely powerless parliament as part of a restructured presidential system he introduced in 2021 after shutting down the old parliament and taking extensive control of the state.
Said’s critics accuse him of seeking to dismantle the democratic system that emerged after Tunisia’s 2011 revolution that sparked the Arab Spring, and he was mocked in December’s narrow election, showing that his reforms lack popular support.
Over coffee in a cafe in Etahrir, Mongi Launi, one of seven people, said only he could vote.
“I don’t know, maybe I’ll go later,” he said. Another man sitting in a cafe, who only gave his name as Imad, said he did not believe his vote would matter after Saeed’s political change.
He said that only the president decides everything. “He doesn’t care about anyone, we don’t care about him and his choices.”
At another polling station in Etadamon district, there were apparently few voters. One, who gave his name as Ridha, said that despite the reduced role of parliament, it was a show of support for Syed.
He is an innocent man fighting a corrupt system.
The president has accused his critics of treason and called for action against them, saying his actions to rescue Tunisia from years of economic collapse and political crisis are legitimate and necessary.
The severe economic crisis, which caused some shortages of food and medicine and led to the government seeking international aid, made him despair of politics.
Moody’s credit rating agency on Friday downgraded Tunisia’s debt, saying the country would default on its sovereign debt.
In the previous system, the parliament was at the forefront of electing the governments that set government policies and lead the day-to-day activities of the country. The President was directly responsible for foreign affairs and defense only.
Saeed’s new laws made parliament subordinate to the president, who is now at the forefront of forming and dismissing governments. The regulation reduces the role of political parties, and parliamentary candidates are listed by name only, without mentioning their party affiliation.
After the December vote, state television increased its focus on Sunday’s runoff, including debates between candidates. The opposition said this is part of the government’s efforts to increase public participation.
The Election Commission, which last year took over from CED, provides two separate figures, one among the total electorate and one among voluntarily registered voters.
The turnout for the December election was for all voters. Electoral Commission official Maher Jadid said on Shams FM radio this week that voter turnout is expected to be 20-30 percent.
Polls are open from 8am to 6pm (0700 GMT-1700 GMT).
(Reporting by Tarek Amara; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Copyright 2023 Thomson Reuters.