As was expected, Mouncif Merzouki and Beji Caid Esebssi emerged as the top two favourites of voters in the first round of Tunisia’s presidential election. Partial and unofficial results show that Essebsi obtained around 39.46 % and Merzouki 33.43% of votes cast. Hama Hamami, Popular Front, obtained 7.82 %, Hechmi Hmadi 5.75%, and the businessman Slim Riahi 5.55 %. With 27 candidates, Caid Essebsi and Nidaa Tounes, could not seal a victory from the first round since different dynamics have operated since last month’s legislative elections. It is clear that Ennahdha’s base (30% in the October 26 elections) has weighed in favour of Merzouki, despite the fact that the movement remained officially neutral and abstained from giving official voting instructions to its members. Two kingmakers are in a position to negotiate. Slim Riahia, leader of the National Union (15 seats in the last legislative elections) has not yet announced which candidate he would support in the second round, in late December. Hama Hamami’s Popular Front has already announced that it would not support Merzouki in the second round but would not necessarily back Caid Essebsi.
http://www.isie.tn/
http://zoomtunisia.tn/article/top/20673.html
http://www.kapitalis.com/politique/25986-l-isie-confirme-la-victoire-de-caid-essebsi
