Quiet parliamentary elections in Tunisia
2022.12.17 11:22
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Quiet parliamentary elections in Tunisia
Budrigannews.com – Tunisians showed little tendency to decide on Saturday morning in a parliamentary political decision that most ideological groups are boycotting, having reprimanded it as the perfection of a walk to one-man rule by President Kais Saied.
The election will elect a new parliament whose members are likely to have little influence on government policy and will take place 12 years to the day after Tunisian vegetable seller Mohamed Bouazizi set himself ablaze in a protest that sparked the Arab Spring.
Compared to Saturday, when few Tunisians were visible at polling stations in the capital, turnout in the majority of previous elections since the 2011 revolution that brought democracy to the country was higher.
Reuters went to six polling places all over Tunis that were mostly quiet. A journalist from the agency saw only about 20 voters cast their ballots in the Ettadamon and Ettahir districts over a two-hour period split between three.
By 10 a.m. (0900 GMT), two hours after polling stations opened, the official electoral commission, whose members are appointed by Saied, reported that approximately 270,000, or 3%, of the 9 million eligible voters, had cast ballots.
Saied urged Tunisians to vote as he voted earlier, hailing the election as historic. However, as they struggle financially, many have become jaded as a result of years of political dysfunction.
“Why ought I to vote?… Abdl Hamid Naji, sitting in a cafe near a polling station in the Lafayette neighborhood of Tunis, declared, “I am not convinced by this election.” The polls opened at 8:00 a.m. (0700 GMT).
“What is this parliament going to do?” He inquired. I was the first to vote in previous elections, but now I’m not interested.”
At the Tunisian Rue de Marseille polling station, which had been packed since early in the day for previous elections, there were more journalists than voters.
The voter, Faouzi Ayarai, expressed optimism. She stated, “These elections are an opportunity to rectify the bad situation that others have created over the past years.”
When Saied was elected president in 2019, he was a former law lecturer who was a political independent. In July 2021, he started to rule by decree, gradually gaining power.
He is accused of staging a coup by his adversaries, including the Islamist Ennahda party.
A new constitution, which was approved in a referendum in July with a low turnout, has defanged parliament and returned power to the presidential palace in Carthage, where Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali ruled with an iron fist until he was overthrown in 2011.
The election has been described as a “still-born farce” by Nejib Chebbi, the leader of an anti-Saied coalition that includes the Islamist Ennahda party, which was a major force in the previous parliament.
Saied has portrayed it as a component of a guide for finishing the tumult and debasement he says distressed Tunisia under the past framework.
Making his choice with his better half, he encouraged Tunisians to do in like manner. ” He stated, “It is your historic chance to regain your legitimate rights.”
However, the non-governmental watchdog organization I Watch stated that the new parliament had been “emptied of all powers” following the 2011 revolution.
Al Bawsala, an additional non-governmental organization that has been keeping an eye on parliament’s activities ever since the revolution, has declared that it will boycott a legislature that, in its opinion, will serve as a tool for the president.
The economic crisis that is causing poverty is happening at the same time as the election. As a result, many people are trying to make the dangerous journey to Europe on smugglers’ boats.
A total of 1,058 candidates, 120 of whom are women, are running for 161 seats with the main parties absent.
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There is only one candidate for ten of those, seven in Tunisia and three decided by expatriate voters. Seven additional seats decided by expatriate voters do not have any candidates running.
