Tunisian Elections: High Turnout as Secular-Religious Divide Continues

[rug]

By Anissa Haddadi | October 24, 2011 10:54 AM GMT

The first elections in Tunisia since the revolution, held Sunday, have been hailed as a success after an exceptionally high turnout proved Tunisians are determined to use their new freedoms.

While officials first announced the turnout at 70 per cent a few hours before the voting booths closed, by Sunday evening the electoral commission's secretary-general, Boubaker Bethabet, said more than 90 per cent of some 4.1 million citizens who registered ahead of the poll had cast their vote.

Figures concerning the other 3.1 million voters who had not registered but still had the right to vote were not yet available.

Ennahda, a moderate Islamist party banned under ousted President Zine al-Abedine Ben Ali, is now expected to emerge as the strongest single party when results are announced on Tuesday, with some observers predicting it will win as much as 40 per cent.

http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/236358/20111024/tunisian-elections-high-turnout-as-secular-religious-divide-continues.htm

[pinto]

1. What a great turnout. No clue to what predicted results will mean long term for Tunisia,

but 90% of registered voters is a real hallmark. Kudos.

:thumbsup: