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Tunisia election: Marzouki refuses to admit defeat | Tunisia election: Marzouki refuses to admit defeat |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Moncef Marzouki has refused to admit defeat in Tunisia's first free presidential election after exit polls suggested Beji Caid Essebsi had won. | Moncef Marzouki has refused to admit defeat in Tunisia's first free presidential election after exit polls suggested Beji Caid Essebsi had won. |
The caretaker president, a former exile, said his rival's declaration of victory was "undemocratic". | The caretaker president, a former exile, said his rival's declaration of victory was "undemocratic". |
Mr Essebsi, 88, has been celebrating with supporters, telling them all Tunisians now need to "work together", and promising to bring stability. | Mr Essebsi, 88, has been celebrating with supporters, telling them all Tunisians now need to "work together", and promising to bring stability. |
Critics say his success marks the return of a discredited establishment. | Critics say his success marks the return of a discredited establishment. |
Official results are not expected until Monday evening. One exit poll gave Mr Essebsi 55.5%, with several others showing similar figures. | Official results are not expected until Monday evening. One exit poll gave Mr Essebsi 55.5%, with several others showing similar figures. |
The election marks the last stage of Tunisia's move to democracy, after the 2011 overthrow of President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali. | The election marks the last stage of Tunisia's move to democracy, after the 2011 overthrow of President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali. |
It is the first time Tunisians have been able vote freely for their president since independence from France in 1956. | It is the first time Tunisians have been able vote freely for their president since independence from France in 1956. |
'Undemocratic' | 'Undemocratic' |
Mr Marzouki, a 67-year-old human rights activist forced into exile by the Ben Ali government, said the election was too early to call. | |
"The announcement of victory is undemocratic and we should wait if we want to be a state that respects the rule of law," he told supporters. | "The announcement of victory is undemocratic and we should wait if we want to be a state that respects the rule of law," he told supporters. |
"What I want to tell you is that we are victorious, we are victorious , we are victorious. Tunisia has won and you have won. You have won for Tunisia, for democracy and for human rights." | "What I want to tell you is that we are victorious, we are victorious , we are victorious. Tunisia has won and you have won. You have won for Tunisia, for democracy and for human rights." |
Mr Marzouki has been interim president since 2011 and is more popular in the conservative, poorer south. | Mr Marzouki has been interim president since 2011 and is more popular in the conservative, poorer south. |
He was thought likely to attract support from the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, which has played a key role in Tunisian politics since the Arab Spring but did not field a candidate. | He was thought likely to attract support from the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, which has played a key role in Tunisian politics since the Arab Spring but did not field a candidate. |
Coastal candidate | Coastal candidate |
Mr Essebsi appeared on television after polls closed on Sunday, saying: "I dedicate my victory to the martyrs of Tunisia." | |
"I thank Marzouki, and now we should work together without excluding anyone," he added. | |
Supporters danced and let off fireworks outside the headquarters of Mr Essebsi's secular-leaning Nidaa Tounes party. | Supporters danced and let off fireworks outside the headquarters of Mr Essebsi's secular-leaning Nidaa Tounes party. |
Mr Essebsi held office under both deposed President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali and Tunisia's first post-independence leader, Habib Bourguiba. | Mr Essebsi held office under both deposed President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali and Tunisia's first post-independence leader, Habib Bourguiba. |
He led in the first round of voting last month with 39% of the vote. Mr Marzouki polled 33%. | |
He is popular in the wealthy, coastal regions, and based his appeal to voters on stability and experience. | He is popular in the wealthy, coastal regions, and based his appeal to voters on stability and experience. |
Reduced role | Reduced role |
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 boosted security for the elections and closed border posts with Libya, which has been plagued by unrest. | Tunisia boosted security for the elections and closed border posts with Libya, which has been plagued by unrest. |
A group of at least three attackers targeted a polling station near the city of Kairouan on Sunday morning. Security forces say they killed one attacker and arrested three. | A group of at least three attackers targeted a polling station near the city of Kairouan on Sunday morning. Security forces say they killed one attacker and arrested three. |