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Tunisia election: Kais Saied to become president, exit polls suggest | Tunisia election: Kais Saied to become president, exit polls suggest |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Retired academic Kais Saied is set to become president of Tunisia, exit polls suggest. | Retired academic Kais Saied is set to become president of Tunisia, exit polls suggest. |
The poll said the law professor, 61, had secured 76% of votes. No official results have yet been published. | The poll said the law professor, 61, had secured 76% of votes. No official results have yet been published. |
He was up against media mogul Nabil Karoui, 56, who campaigned from prison after being arrested on charges of money laundering and tax fraud. | He was up against media mogul Nabil Karoui, 56, who campaigned from prison after being arrested on charges of money laundering and tax fraud. |
He denies the charges and officials have warned he may appeal, arguing he was not allowed a fair campaign. | |
After the exit polls were released, Mr Saied appeared in front of jubilant supporters in Tunis and thanked "young people for turning a new page" in Tunisia's history. | After the exit polls were released, Mr Saied appeared in front of jubilant supporters in Tunis and thanked "young people for turning a new page" in Tunisia's history. |
"We will try to build a new Tunisia. Young people led this campaign, and I am responsible for them," he said, flanked by his family. | "We will try to build a new Tunisia. Young people led this campaign, and I am responsible for them," he said, flanked by his family. |
Mr Karoui, who was freed by a court order just four days ago, came second in the first round of voting, with 15.6% of the vote to Mr Saied's 18.4%. | Mr Karoui, who was freed by a court order just four days ago, came second in the first round of voting, with 15.6% of the vote to Mr Saied's 18.4%. |
Turnout exceeded 50%. | Turnout exceeded 50%. |
Supporters take to the streets | Supporters take to the streets |
Rana Jawad, BBC North Africa correspondent | Rana Jawad, BBC North Africa correspondent |
With Kais Saied apparently leading by a large majority, his supporters took to the streets in celebration. Official results will be revealed on Monday. | With Kais Saied apparently leading by a large majority, his supporters took to the streets in celebration. Official results will be revealed on Monday. |
Kais Saeid and his rival Nabil Karoui held a debate on Friday night that was watched by more than six million Tunisians. | Kais Saeid and his rival Nabil Karoui held a debate on Friday night that was watched by more than six million Tunisians. |
Mr Saied provided little policy detail, merely speaking of empowering the people and being a man of the law, leaving his critics and undecided voters with the impression that he has no plan. | Mr Saied provided little policy detail, merely speaking of empowering the people and being a man of the law, leaving his critics and undecided voters with the impression that he has no plan. |
Mr Karoui, meanwhile, said he would alleviate poverty and bring in high-tech jobs from Google, Netflix and Amazon - a promise that was the subject of much satire on social media. | Mr Karoui, meanwhile, said he would alleviate poverty and bring in high-tech jobs from Google, Netflix and Amazon - a promise that was the subject of much satire on social media. |
The debate, however, did appear to inject more energy into the second round of voting. | The debate, however, did appear to inject more energy into the second round of voting. |
Who is Kais Saied? | Who is Kais Saied? |
Nicknamed "the robot" for his stern manner, Mr Saied ran a shrewd campaign, with almost no advertising, on a message of integrity and anti-corruption targeted at young Tunisian voters. | |
Mr Saied was on the committee of experts that helped parliament draft Tunisia's post-Arab Spring constitution, adopted in 2014. He occasionally appeared on television as a political commentator. | Mr Saied was on the committee of experts that helped parliament draft Tunisia's post-Arab Spring constitution, adopted in 2014. He occasionally appeared on television as a political commentator. |
In the week before the polls, he announced that he would not campaign while his rival was in prison. | In the week before the polls, he announced that he would not campaign while his rival was in prison. |
He has promised electoral reforms, including changes to local elections for regional representatives. | He has promised electoral reforms, including changes to local elections for regional representatives. |
Critics have attacked his conservative social views, however. | Critics have attacked his conservative social views, however. |
In an interview with a local newspaper, he accused foreign powers of encouraging homosexuality in the country. | In an interview with a local newspaper, he accused foreign powers of encouraging homosexuality in the country. |
He is in favour of restoring the death penalty, suspended since 1994 in Tunisia. | He is in favour of restoring the death penalty, suspended since 1994 in Tunisia. |
If he wins the presidency, his wife will not be known as the country's First Lady, he says. He opposes equal inheritance for men and women. | If he wins the presidency, his wife will not be known as the country's First Lady, he says. He opposes equal inheritance for men and women. |
What is the significance of the poll? | What is the significance of the poll? |
The election was brought forward after the death in July of Tunisia's first democratically elected president, Beji Caid Essebsi. | The election was brought forward after the death in July of Tunisia's first democratically elected president, Beji Caid Essebsi. |
He took office in 2014, three years after a popular uprising that led to the overthrow of long-serving ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and sparked the Arab Spring. | He took office in 2014, three years after a popular uprising that led to the overthrow of long-serving ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and sparked the Arab Spring. |
Correspondents says that while the Arab Spring gave Tunisia democracy eight years ago, it has not delivered the economic benefits they had hoped for. |