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Tunisians choose president in run-off elections | Tunisians choose president in run-off elections |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Voters in Tunisia are choosing their first freely elected president in a run-off election seen as a landmark in the country's move to democracy. | Voters in Tunisia are choosing their first freely elected president in a run-off election seen as a landmark in the country's move to democracy. |
Beji Caid Essebsi, who won the first round with 39% of the vote, is challenging interim leader Moncef Marzouki. | Beji Caid Essebsi, who won the first round with 39% of the vote, is challenging interim leader Moncef Marzouki. |
Mr Essebsi represents the secular-leaning Nidaa Tounes party. | Mr Essebsi represents the secular-leaning Nidaa Tounes party. |
Tunisia was the first country to depose its leader in the Arab Spring and inspired other uprisings in the region. | Tunisia was the first country to depose its leader in the Arab Spring and inspired other uprisings in the region. |
Mr Essebsi, who turned 88 this week, held office under both deposed President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali and Tunisia's first post-independence leader, Habib Bourguiba. | Mr Essebsi, who turned 88 this week, held office under both deposed President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali and Tunisia's first post-independence leader, Habib Bourguiba. |
He is popular in the wealthy, coastal regions, and has based his appeal to voters on stability and experience. | He is popular in the wealthy, coastal regions, and has based his appeal to voters on stability and experience. |
His opponent, Moncef Marzouki, is a 67-year-old human rights activists forced into exile by the Ben Ali government. | His opponent, Moncef Marzouki, is a 67-year-old human rights activists forced into exile by the Ben Ali government. |
He has been interim president since 2011 and is more popular in the conservative, poorer south. | He has been interim president since 2011 and is more popular in the conservative, poorer south. |
Mr Marzouki is likely to attract support from the Islamist Ennahda party, which has paid a key role in Tunisian politics since the Arab Spring but has not fielded a candidate. | Mr Marzouki is likely to attract support from the Islamist Ennahda party, which has paid a key role in Tunisian politics since the Arab Spring but has not fielded a candidate. |
At the scene: Naveena Kottoor, BBC Tunis | |
Voting is well under way at a school-turned-polling station in the Tunis suburb of Kram, not too far from the presidential palace in Carthage. | |
At least 10 members of the Tunisian security forces are deployed here, checking bags and ID before people are allowed to enter. | |
Many voters have brought their children, who are playing in the courtyard while the parents are queuing. Slightly more than two hours after voting started turnout here was under 20%. | |
The process is being scrutinised not just by international election observers, but also by thousands of Tunisian observers, who are walking around in blue vests and filling in forms. | |
"I am not just proud, I am very, very proud," said a 65-year-old man who has just arrived. "I never voted under dictatorship, this is the first time for me." | |
Presidential powers | Presidential powers |
Whoever wins faces restricted powers under a constitution passed earlier this year. | Whoever wins faces restricted powers under a constitution passed earlier this year. |
The president will be commander-in-chief of the armed forces but can appoint or sack senior officers only in consultation with the prime minister. | The president will be commander-in-chief of the armed forces but can appoint or sack senior officers only in consultation with the prime minister. |
The president will also set foreign policy in consultation with the prime minister, represent the state and ratify treaties. | The president will also set foreign policy in consultation with the prime minister, represent the state and ratify treaties. |
Tunisia has boosted security for the elections and closed border posts with Libya, which has been plagued by unrest. | Tunisia has boosted security for the elections and closed border posts with Libya, which has been plagued by unrest. |
In the build-up to the vote, a video emerged of Islamic State militants claiming responsibility for the 2013 killings of two Tunisian politicians. | In the build-up to the vote, a video emerged of Islamic State militants claiming responsibility for the 2013 killings of two Tunisian politicians. |
The men in the video also condemned the election and threatened more killings. | The men in the video also condemned the election and threatened more killings. |
An interior ministry spokesman dismissed the video, saying the group "mean nothing to us". | An interior ministry spokesman dismissed the video, saying the group "mean nothing to us". |
About 5.2 million Tunisians are eligible to vote in the run-off poll. At least 88,000 observers are overseeing the election, according to Tunisian state media. | About 5.2 million Tunisians are eligible to vote in the run-off poll. At least 88,000 observers are overseeing the election, according to Tunisian state media. |