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Tunisia election: Kais Saied to become president, exit polls say Tunisia election: Kais Saied to become president, exit polls say
(about 1 hour 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 the votes. No official results have been published.The poll said the law professor, 61, had secured 76% of the votes. No official results have 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 has not been allowed a fair campaign.He denies the charges and officials have warned he may appeal, arguing he has not been allowed a fair campaign.
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%.
Tunisia's privately owned radio station Mosaique FM quoted a member of the country's Independent Higher Authority for Elections, Adel Brinsi, as saying that turnout has "exceeded 50%". Tunisia's privately owned radio station Mosaique FM quoted a member of the country's Independent Higher Authority for Elections, Adel Brinsi, as saying that turnout "exceeded 50%".
What are the two candidates offering? Who is Kais Saied and what are his policies?
Nicknamed "the robot", Mr Saied has run a shrewd and hard campaign, with almost no advertising, on a message of integrity and anti-corruption targeted at young Tunisian voters. Nicknamed "the robot", Mr Saied has run 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.
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, and has said that if he wins the presidency, his wife will not be the country's first lady. He is in favour of restoring the death penalty, suspended since 1994 in Tunisia.
As for Mr Karoui, he is dubbed Nabil "Makrouna" (pasta) for his charity's distribution of money and bags of the staple food. If he wins the presidency, his wife will not be the country's first lady, he says. He opposes equal inheritance for men and women.
Supporters view him as a self-made businessman, and praise his philanthropy in a country facing rising living costs and youth unemployment.
He founded the charity to fight poverty - a central theme of his campaign.
Opponents have accused Mr Karoui of using his popular TV station, Nessma, to further his political ambitions.
He was arrested in August on charges of tax evasion and money-laundering shortly before the campaign opened.
The charges have not been dropped, despite his release from prison.
His supporters say powerful forces in Tunisia have conspired to scuttle his candidacy, but authorities say his arrest was based on a three-year-old investigation.
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, many believe it brought little else.Correspondents says that while the Arab Spring gave Tunisia democracy eight years ago, many believe it brought little else.
And Djordje Todorovic, a foreign observer at the poll, said he was concerned that Tunisia "probably won't have a strong or stable government after this election".And Djordje Todorovic, a foreign observer at the poll, said he was concerned that Tunisia "probably won't have a strong or stable government after this election".
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