Voter turnout ‘big failure’ for Tunisian president: Opposition

TUNIS, Tunisia

Tunisia’s main opposition bloc on Sunday called the low voter turnout in the country’s parliamentary elections a “big failure” for President Kais Saied.

Tunisians cast ballots on Saturday to elect a new parliament, with voter turnout reaching only 8.8% amid a boycott by major parties.

The vote was the latest step in a series of exceptional measures taken by Saied, which started in July 2021 with ousting the government, dissolving parliament, and drafting a new Constitution.

Saturday’s polls were boycotted by major Tunisian political parties, including the Ennahda movement, Heart of Tunisia Party, and Movement Party.

“The voter turnout shows that the people have lost their hope in Saied,” Ahmed Najib Chebbi, head of the National Salvation Front, told a press conference in the capital Tunis.

He said over nine out of 10 eligible voters had declined to take part in the polls.

“This is a big failure to Saied,” Chebbi said. “This is a call for Saied to leave. There’s no reason for him to stay in power.”

There was no comment from the Tunisian presidency on Chebbi’s statements.

The National Salvation Front consists of five parties – the Ennahda Movement, Heart of Tunisia Party, Dignity Coalition, Movement Party and Al-Amal Party.

While Saied insists that his recent exceptional measures are meant to "save" the country, critics have accused him of orchestrating a coup.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar​​​​​​​