Outsider Saied set for victory
TUNIS: Conservative academic Kais Saied, a political outsider, was headed for a landslide victory in Tunisia’s presidential runoff, sweeping aside his rival, media magnate Nabil Karoui, exit polls said.
In a contest that reflected Tunisia’s shifting post-revolution political landscape, Mr Saied, an independent, scooped 72.5% of the vote according to the Emrhod exit poll on Sunday, and 76.9% in the Sigma one — over 40 points ahead of Mr Karoui.
Thousands of people took to the streets of the capital Tunis to celebrate Mr Saied’s victory, honking horns and singing the national anthem.
“It’s a historic day: Tunisia is reaping the fruits of the revolution,” said Boussairi Abidi, a 39-year-old mechanic. “Kais Saied is going to put an end to corruption, he will be a fair president.”
Official results were not expected until late yesterday.
In his first reaction, Mr Saied thanked the country’s young people “for turning a new page”, and vowed to try to build “a new Tunisia”.
Around 90% of 18- to 25-year-olds voted for Mr Saied, according to estimates by the Sigma polling institute, compared with 49.2% of voters over 60.
“Kais Saied, voice of the people,” a gathered crowd chanted. “Long live Tunisia!”
“We are very happy. Tunisia has an honest man at the helm now. The difference between the two candidates was the work he has been doing,” said Mustafa El Ghali, a family member.
The runoff was contested by two political newcomers — pitting Mr Saied, nicknamed “Robocop”, against a businessman, Mr Karoui, who is dubbed “Tunisia’s Berlusconi”.
They trounced the old guard in a Sept 15 first round, highlighting voter anger over a stagnant economy, joblessness and poor public services in the cradle of the Arab Spring.
Adding controversy and suspense to the contest, Mr Karoui only walked free from jail on Wednesday, having spent more than a month behind bars on suspicion of money-laundering.
The poll, Tunisia’s second free presidential election since its 2011 revolt, followed the death of president Beji Caid Essebsi in July.
Turnout was higher than in the first round and estimated at around 57%.
In one polling station, voters said they were divided between “the one who will apply the law” and the one “who helps the poor”, referring to a charity television show that boosted Mr Karoui’s popularity.
The 56-year-old tycoon Mr Karoui portrayed himself as a bulwark against political Islam, which he accused his rival of supporting.
He called the result a “denial of justice”, saying he had been penalised by his jailing. He likened his defeat to breaking a leg right at the end of a race.
Mr Saied, a 61-year-old constitutional law expert, campaigned on the values of the 2011 revolution, based on opposition to Westernised and corrupt elites, and in favour of radical decentralisation.