Tunisians elect a law professor as new president
Tunisian voters have elected a retired law professor, Kais Saied as their new president after Sunday’s presidential run-off poll.
Saied is set to become Tunisia’s next president after securing over 70 percent of votes in the run-off election.
He beat his only challenger in the election, media mogul Nabil Karoui, who is facing charges of money laundering and tax fraud.
The electoral commission announced that Saied, 61, secured 73% of votes in the run-off election.
Saied has since the announcement of his electoral victory appeared in front of jubilant supporters in Tunis.
He thanked “young people for turning a new page” in Tunisia’s history, with indications he benefited fromm young voters.
“We will try to build a new Tunisia. Young people led this campaign, and I am responsible for them,” he said.
His rival Karoui conceded defeat on Monday, before the official results were due to be announced.
“I would like to congratulate you on your election to presidency,” he said, in a statement sent to journalists.
Kais Saied is regarded by his supporters as a humble man of principle and has the backing of Tunisia’s moderate Islamist party Ennahda.
He has promised electoral reforms, including changes to local elections for regional representatives.
The anti-homosexuality campaigner wants to restore the death penalty, suspended since 1994 in Tunisia.
Saied does not support equal inheritance for men and women.
Tunisia is currently struggling to deal with a worsening economic crisis compounded by social unrest.
Source: Africafeeds.com
