Early signs of strong Islamist vote in Tunisia

TUNIS – Tunisian authorities counted votes yesterday in carefully watched elections, with early signs that a once-banned Islamist party is leading in many constituencies in the country that unleashed uprisings across the Arab world.

Tunisia was known for decades for its repressive leadership but also for its progressive legislation on women and families, which secular-leaning Tunisians fear the moderate Islamist party Ennahda would roll back if it takes a commanding number of seats in the new assembly being created by Sunday’s elections.Ennahda believes that Islam should be the reference point for the country’s system and laws but maintains that it will respect women’s rights and is committed to democracy and working with other parties.’During the campaign the Islamist party was quite disciplined in saying they will protect human rights, they will protect the rights of women and maintain equality, but in fact this is an open question,’ said Ricky Goldstein who observed the elections for the New York-based Human Rights Watch. ‘Their discourse in some areas was vague and ambiguous.’He did, however, pronounce the contests as ‘a shining example in terms of the conduct of elections,’ in an interview with Associated Press Television News. ‘I think we will see the example of Tunisia influence positively the upcoming elections in Egypt.’Tunisia’s landmark elections coincided with declarations in neighbouring Libya by its new leaders that the country has been liberated from the yoke of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. The new leaders also announced plans with a sharply Islamist tone that could rattle their Western backers.Turnout was massive on a day electric with the excitement of Tunisia’s first truly free elections in its history, with long lines at polling stations. More than 90 per cent of the 4.1 million registered voters, out of a 7.5 million strong electorate, participated, said Boubker Bethabet, Secretary General of the election commission.Voters were electing a 217-seat constituent assembly that will shape their fledgling democracy, choose a new government and write a new constitution that would pave the way for future elections.More than 14 000 local and international observers watched polling stations, including delegations from the European Union and the Carter Center.After 23 years in power, President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown on January 14 by a month-long uprising, sparked by a fruit vendor who set himself on fire in protest of police harassment, compounded by anger over unemployment, corruption and repression.The uprising inspired similar rebellions across the Arab world. The autocratic rulers of Egypt and Libya have fallen since, but Tunisia is the first country to hold free elections as a result of the upheaval. Egypt’s parliamentary election is set for next month. – Nampa-AP

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