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On Monday, the European Union said it had “taken note” of criticisms from rights groups “concerning the integrity of the electoral process” and “various measures deemed detrimental to the democratic requirements of credibility” of the vote. Late Sunday, hundreds of Saied supporters took to the streets of Tunis in celebration after exit polls announced his potential win with 89 percent.

“I voted yesterday, and the results are excellent, everything is going very well, the atmosphere is great,” said Mounir, 65. “What we need now is a drop in prices. We want better education, health and above all safety.” Saied had been widely expected to win after the ISIE barred 14 candidates from standing, leaving just Zammel and Maghzaoui as challengers.

Zammel, a little-known liberal businessman, has been behind bars since his bid was approved by the ISIE in September. He faces more than 14 years in prison for allegedly forging endorsements. Maghzaoui had backed Saied’s power grab and was seen as no threat. Rights groups have condemned a democratic backslide in Tunisia in recent years. According to New York-based Human Rights Watch, more than “170 people are detained in Tunisia on political grounds or for exercising their fundamental rights”. — AFP

Other jailed figures include Rached Ghannouchi, head of the opposition party Ennahdha, which dominated political life after the revolution. Also detained is Abir Moussi, head of the Free Destourian Party, which critics accuse of wanting to bring back the regime ousted in 2011. Saied had called on Tunisians to “vote massively” to usher in what he called an era of “reconstruction”. He cited “a long war against conspiratorial forces linked to foreign circles”, accusing them of “infiltrating many public services and disrupting hundreds of projects”.

The International Crisis Group think tank has said that while Saied “enjoys significant support among the working classes, he has been criticized for failing to resolve the country’s deep economic crisis”. Celebrating the exit polls late Sunday, Saied again warned of “foreign interference”, pledging to rid Tunisia “of the corrupt and conspirators”. – AFP