Tunisia Elections 2011: Ennahda, Moderate Islamist Party, Leads

[JayAtl]

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related video- Tunisians Vote in Landmark Poll Video watch the young democracy in making , it's people jubilant...


TUNIS, Tunisia -- Tunisian authorities counted votes Monday in the first free election in the nation's history, with early signs that a once-banned Islamist party is leading in the country that unleashed uprisings across the Arab world.

Radio Mosaique FM posted results from polling stations around the country Monday, with many showing a commanding lead for the moderate Islamist party Ennahda. An Ennahda victory in a comparatively secular society like Tunisia could have wide implications for similar religious parties across North Africa.

Election commission head Kamel Jendoubi said official results would be released Tuesday afternoon.

European observers on Monday pronounced the election one of the freest they had ever seen and urged all the parties to accept the results. Long snaking lines of voters on Sunday testified to Tunisians' eagerness to embrace an open ballot after decades of dictatorship.

"There is no way of arguing the legitimacy of the outcome, absolutely not, even if there is disappointment," said Swiss parliamentarian Andreas Gross, the head of the observer delegation from the Council of Europe.

"We call on the principal political actors to recognize the results of the elections and to quickly begin the work of the National Constituent Assembly," he added.

Many of the parties had accused Ennahda of election violations, from advising voters how to cast their ballots to even the outright purchase of votes, but the observers dismissed the reports.

"We didn't see any evidence of the allegations by some stakeholders of vote buying," said Italian parliamentarian Riccardo Migliori. "They should not make such allegations if they don't have the evidence."

Tunisia was known for decades for its repressive leadership but also for its progressive legislation on women and families, which secular-leaning Tunisians fear Ennahda will roll back if it takes a commanding number of seats in the new assembly.


Ennahda believes that Islam should be the reference point for the country's system and laws but maintains 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.

He did, however, pronounce Tunisia "a shining example in terms of the conduct of elections," in an interview with Associated Press Television News. "We will see the example of Tunisia influence positively the upcoming elections in Egypt."

Tunisia's landmark elections coincided with declarations in neighboring Libya by its new leaders that the country has been liberated from the yoke of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Libya's new leaders also announced plans with a sharply Islamist tone that could rattle their Western backers.

Turnout in Tunisia was massive on a day electric with the excitement, with long lines at polling stations. More than 90 percent of the country's 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.

In a surprise second place in many constituencies was the Congress for the Republic party of longtime human rights activist Moncef Marzouki, according to party and electoral officials. Marzouki is known less for his political beliefs than for his high-profile criticism of the old regime's repression.

Of all the secular parties arrayed against Ennahda in the election, Marzouki's has been the most open to joining a coalition with the Islamist party.

Also a surprise has been the apparent poor showing of the Progressive Democratic Party, the strongest legal opposition group under the old regime, a center-left party that has billed itself as the main opponent of Ennahda and a defender of secular values.

Preliminary results don't show the party even polling a distant third or fourth in many districts.

Ennahda had been widely expected to perform well, though the key question is whether it would get a majority. Regardless of the result, the party has said it would join a coalition with other parties to ensure a broad-based government.

More than 14,000 local and international observers watched polling stations, including delegations from the European Union and the Carter Center.

Voters included women with headscarves and without, former political prisoners and young people whose Facebook posts helped fuel the revolution.

After 23 years in power, President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown Jan. 14 by a monthlong uprising, sparked by a fruit vendor who set himself on fire to protest police harassment. The uprising was fueled by anger over unemployment, corruption and repression and quickly 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.

President Barack Obama offered his congratulations, saying that "less than a year after they inspired the world, the Tunisian people took an important step forward."

France – Tunisia's former colonial master – said that with Sunday's elections the country had "confirmed its role as pioneer."

Tunisia's economy and employment, however, have only gotten worse since Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia because tourists and foreign investors have stayed away.

Tunisia Elections 2011: Ennahda, Moderate Islamist Party, Leads Many Constituencies

[nick_indian]

^^^ An islamist party is winning ? Uh oh...

This is what we were afraid of .

[TARIQ BN ZIYAAD]

An Ennahda victory in a comparatively secular society like Tunisia could have wide implications for similar religious parties across North Africa.

if a secular society how come they r winning

TARIQ

[JayAtl]

^^^ An islamist party is winning ? Uh oh...

This is what we were afraid of .

they are all islamist parties I suppose in that region. but this one is a moderate one.. you can get democracy in that region - and thats awesome. expecting them to go secular- well thats a tall expectation.

[Mosamania]

Muslims will only want Muslim rule. A rule that goes by their Islamic teachings.

What Most non-Muslims do not understand is that Islam is not just a belief or faith. It is a complete way of life with complete guidelines regarding every detail of a Muslim's life. Of course it is not forced as you might want to think but each Muslim will do his/her best to practice Islam to its fullest.

[nick_indian]

they are all islamist parties I suppose in that region. but this one is a moderate one.. you can get democracy in that region - and thats awesome. expecting them to go secular- well thats a tall expectation.

a moderate islamist party ? Can you give any parallel of any other such party in any other country ? . Islamist parties are usually extremist .

[Rafi]

a moderate islamist party ? Can you give any parallel of any other such party in any other country ? . Islamist parties are usually extremist .

It is not for you or me to decide, how Tunisians decide to run their affairs, and your response shows your ignorance, a moderate Islamic party AKP is running Turkey to tremendous success, google it.

[JayAtl]

a moderate islamist party ? Can you give any parallel of any other such party in any other country ? . Islamist parties are usually extremist .

well - used to be turkey till the new party started going rogue... I guess Zadari govt is moderate? just does not have the backbone to take on the extremist elements. but they are moderate as a political trait.

[Drawn_Sword_of_God]

Muslims voting for an Islamic party? yip pi Kay yay
what is surprise about this?

---------- Post added at 08:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 PM ----------

^^^ An islamist party is winning ? Uh oh...

This is what we were afraid of .

why?
muslims are majority in Tunisia and they want muslim rule aka (islamic rule)
,problem?

[monitor]

Now the test for the so called guardian and preacher of democracy how they can or really they digest the victory of a Islamic Party in the power of Tunasia . earliar we have seen in Algeria Islamic salvation party could not form govt due to military cue which was supported by France .

[TARIQ BN ZIYAAD]

Assalam alaikum

Rashid alghanoochi ( head of alnahdha party ) have given many concession and tried so hard let the ppl know they r not extremists but still it is not enough for some it seems

TARIQ

[monitor]

a moderate islamist party ? Can you give any parallel of any other such party in any other country ? . Islamist parties are usually extremist .

No most of the main stream party are moderate in my knowledge and striving to win hears and mind of people to win the democratic way . you can not compare taleban and al qaida with the main stream party those are working to establish Islamic state in their country through democratic way .

[JayAtl]

some of you are assuming that " moderate islamist" party is about Islamic rule. Nothing from that article quantifies it so far. Muslims in India vote for congress a lot. maybe minority in tunisia is voting for a party platform vs. religious intent? else why would their people not vote for the parties that have promised an islamic state?

I read people here where " isalmic state" is more important than party platform. Thats why you have economic issues. you should vote for what we amrica call " kitchen table issues" and leave the religion to your local mosques.

[JayAtl]

Muslims will only want Muslim rule. A rule that goes by their Islamic teachings.

What Most non-Muslims do not understand is that Islam is not just a belief or faith. It is a complete way of life with complete guidelines regarding every detail of a Muslim's life. Of course it is not forced as you might want to think but each Muslim will do his/her best to practice Islam to its fullest.

You seem to speak for all muslims. Muslims in india dont want an islamic state

Jinahh did not want an islamic state as a constitution , perhaps at best certain principles of Islam ( a lot is common with all other religions)

"1947 speech which says, “You may belong to any religion or caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the state”.

“Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic state — to be ruled by priests with a divine mission”

Question - would you be okay if a country does not allow its muslims to preach so? would you be okay if a country actually has laws on its books that stifle your religion?

[Mosamania]

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You seem to speak for all muslims. Muslims in india dont want an islamic state

Jinahh did not want an islamic state as a constitution

"1947 speech which says, “You may belong to any religion or caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the state”.

“Pakistan is not going to be a theocratic state — to be ruled by priests with a divine mission”

Question - would you be okay if a country does not allow its muslims to preach so? would you be okay if a country actually has laws on its books that stifle your religion?

Again you show you know nothing about Islam but that is understandable this entire generation have been brought up on wrong information about Islam.