Tunisia once again provides inspiration to the Arab world with its historic elections, reports Lassaad Ben Ahmed in Tunis The interim phase in Tunisia has ended after the first free multi-party elections in the country's history were held, and the people of Tunisia showed their enthusiasm to build a better future after 23 years of dictatorship under Zein Al-Abidine bin Ali and more than five decades of rule by a single party and leader. The number of registered voters was nearly 4.1 million and voter turnout was estimated at 80 per cent, according to official figures, while turnout at overseas polling stations was reported at 40 per cent. There were long queues outside polling stations from the early hours on 23 October until the end of the day in some places. This delayed the closure of some polling stations on time, and allowing voters to cast their ballots late into the night. Vote counting took long hours because of the large number of voter lists in almost all districts, reaching more than 90 per cent in some districts in the capital Tunis. Al-Ahram Weekly asked several voters for the reason behind their enthusiasm, and received a variety of responses, but everyone �ê" young and old �ê" agreed that they had a strong desire to vote and have high hopes for a better future for their country. Al-Sayed Abdel-Hameed from the city of Al-Marsa is in his 50s but has never been to a polling station before, because the results were always predetermined. "Today, I am positive my vote will count," Abdel-Hamid asserted. The situation was different in working class districts where some people are used to voting in elections because they were forced to cast their ballots, such as Al-Sayed Abul-Qassem. "I am shocked at seeing this unprecedented number of voters," Abul Qassem stated. "In the past, I would come to this elementary school to vote and it would only take a few minutes. The difference today is that I am coming according to my own will without fear and am free to choose whomever I want. In the past, I came out of fear that the mayor would report me, and I could not enter the voting booth by myself, but instead would put the red list in an envelope in front of everyone. That is why I am jubilant and optimistic about the future, and I don't care about waiting in line." Amany, a female from Tunis in her early 20s, said: "I have been waiting for more than two hours since seven this morning, but time has flown by because I was with my friends and we were talking freely about political parties, the opposition and the old regime. I was shaking when I was marking my ballot, but I am overjoyed and very optimistic. The multiple parties are an important gain; it doesn't matter who wins the election." At a working class district 5km outside the capital, a young man called Mohamed Ali was leaving a polling station and revealed that he had never cast his vote before either. "I cannot describe my joy today," Ali said. "It's as if I just received a passport for the first time or obtained a visa to travel to Europe. I am pleased with the large number of parties because this prevents one party from monopolising power in the future." All those interviewed said they were pleased with the electoral process but at times criticised the slow pace at polling stations, although they were confident about the impartiality and transparency of the Independent Supreme Authority for Elections (ISAE). As was predicted, the Islamist Al-Nahda Party swept the elections. Though final results were not yet published as the Weekly went to press, it is estimated that they won 43 per cent of the vote, which should give them nine seats out of 18 in the constituent assembly, or half. These are preliminary results, according to ISAE, until all filed complaints are settled -- they should be filed within 48 hours after preliminary results are announced. Irrespective of the results, nearly all Tunisians were in a celebratory mood for the victory of democracy over dictatorship, embodied in holding these elections without any major problems. There were a few violations such as ignoring the moratorium on campaigning 24 hours before Election Day, or continuing to do so at polling stations or attempting to buy votes. These are all verbal accusations which ISAE is trying to verify and waiting for them to be translated into legal action. Many Tunisians said that they will accept the outcome of elections irrespective of who wins, while many Tunisian and foreign media outlets admired and expressed pride in the people of Tunisia. US President Barack Obama congratulated "Tunisian voters who have changed the course of history". Meanwhile, several Tunisians expressed their rejection and concern about Islamist rule, especially at a ballot station in Al-Manzah district in Tunis where the leader of the Islamist movement in Tunisia Rached Al-Ghanoushi was present and banners were raised in his face declaring "Leave". Several Tunisians also campaigned against him on social networks. Some made accusations against Al-Nahda and ISAE. The latter admitted at a news conference on the same day as the demonstrations that there were violations, stating that these breaches will not influence the general outcome of the elections. It added that it will not hesitate to cancel any electoral list if it is proven to have committed fraud or serious violations. This will be depend on the complaints filed and evidence submitted. Local stations interviewed election monitors and observers who said they did not witness any violations although they had heard about them. During a tour of ballot stations in the capital, the Weekly did not observe any violations except for a complaint by some citizens who cannot read or write that they wanted to vote, but there was no one to help them. Many local media reported that Al-Nahda gave those who could not read or write small scraps of paper with the motif of the Islamist movement, as well as the name and number of its list on the ballot. At all ten or so ballot stations in various districts in the capital visited by the Weekly, all the voters were excited and pleased, and very patient about the long queues so that for the first time they can exercise the right to vote in complete freedom. Al-Nahda said it intends to work with all political forces for the sake of a better future for Tunisia. This paves the way for a possible coalition inside the constituent assembly, especially with Congress for the Republic headed by Monssef Al-Marzuqi or the Popular Base led by Al-Hachemi Al-Hamdi which won more seats than Al-Nahda in his home district of Sidi Buzeid-- where the Tunisian revolution began. Tunisians know that Al-Marzuqi is the arch enemy of deposed president bin Ali and Al-Hamdi is an activist who was exiled in the early 1990s and the director of London-based Arabic television station Al-Mustaquilla. The Tunisian street is optimistic about a better future for Tunisia to end the monochrome rule of a tyrannical regime and replace it with rotation of power, whereby all Tunisians will participate in rebuilding their country irrespective of their diverging views and beliefs. Now, the country will begin the second interim stage until a new constitution is written and ratified within six to 12 months. This will be followed by presidential and parliamentary elections.
