World

Tunisia‘s Islamist Party May Gain Power in the Nation’s First Free Elections

TUNIS, Tunisia (The Blaze/AP) — Tunisian authorities counted votes Monday 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 neighboring Libya by its new leaders that the country has been liberated from the yoke of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi. The new leaders also announced plans with a sharply Islamist tone that could rattle their Western backers.

In Tunisia, Radio Mosaique FM posted results from polling stations around the country Monday, with many showing a commanding lead for Ennahda. Officials familiar results elsewhere said the pattern was repeated across the country.

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

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 percent 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.

In a surprise second place in many constituencies is 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 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 historic center-left party that has billed itself as the main opponent of Ennahda and 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 in protest of police harassment, then stirred 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.

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

An Ennahda victory, especially in a comparatively secular society like Tunisia, could have wide implications for similar religious parties in the region. Considering the fears that center upon these parties and their treatment of women and potentially restrictive governance, all eyes will likely be upon the election results.

Preliminary reports indicate voting went smoothly. But some expressed indifference about the elections out of frustration that life has not improved since the revolution. Tunisia’s economy and employment, part of the reason for the revolution in the first place, has only gotten worse since Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia because tourists and foreign investors have stayed away.

Comments (28)

  • RighteousTyrant
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 5:40pm

    So democracy is a good thing when we’re using it to justify invasions, and a bad thing when people actually have it and use it. Do I have this right?

    Report Post »  
  • fidelcashflo44
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:57pm

    The Blaze comment section again proves itself to be the mecca of idiocy on the internet.

    Report Post »  
  • LOJ
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:57pm

    Our wonderful military has been used to help the Islamic One World Caliphate. So when do we get Sharia here in the U.S? We have alot of information and all we do is blog and talk! Nobody has really taken the lead to tell the People, This is our strategy we are not going to allow this to continue, Where are the Leaders, are they Chicken?

    Report Post »  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 3:38pm

      mmm smell that fresh Arab Spring…cough..cough.

      Report Post »  
    • CLEttinger
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 4:33pm

      We cant have the ten commandments in our courts but we can have Sharia…

      Report Post » CLEttinger  
  • Arshloch
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 2:18pm

    The return of the Ottoman Empire. I think Vlad the Impalier had a solution.

    Report Post » Arshloch  
  • GadsdenGurl
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:48pm

    IF #OWS has its way, we’ll all be wearing burkhas

    Report Post » GadsdenGurl  
  • NILAP
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 1:41pm

    There will be no Caliphate. There will be HEAVEN ON EARTH as it is in heaven – a socialist world government. Everyone will get a mansion.

    Report Post » NILAP  
  • Bill Rowland
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 12:35pm

    Another piece of the caliphate. Does anyone truely believe that this will turn into another sharia law legislature and will become part of Obumbler/Hilrod Islamist caliphate. After all Hiolrod and Obumbler have told us what great guys thr Muslim Brotherhood is and how they are just going to get rid of those nasty old dictators and setting up democracies all over the mid east.
    You know that Hilrod nor Obumbler would lie to us.

    OMG

    Report Post »  
  • Mr. H.
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 12:30pm

    The Islamic Brotherhood has patiently waited over 70 years for a toe hold from which to begin a new Caliphate. They are loosely but well organized. They have positioned themselves to rise to the occasion of controlling middle eastern governments as the dictators fall. They have candidates for office at all levels of government in every middle eastern country. Their people will be elected as there are few to oppose them in the chaos following the the removal of the dictators in power. We can see their rise in Egypt, and it is being predicted in Libya, and Tunisia. The goal is to rule the world with Sharia. The need is to counter the brotherhood as best we can from afar. Go to http://www.memri.com and read the ever changing updated articles there. Sharia = Islamic rule. Theocracy = Tyranny.

    Report Post »  
  • Watchyer6
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 11:28am

    Arab spring = Islamist winter.

    Report Post » Watchyer6  
  • Epic Fail
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 10:09am

    Too bad Sharia law does not include:

    1. You must stay in your home country.
    2. That’s all…..

    Report Post » Epic Fail  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 9:11am

    A blind man could have seen that coming.

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Biscuit Feed Bubba
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 9:51am

      True. No surprise. Another Muslim democracy, more to come in Libya, etc. Our muslim in chief is leading the way for demon-cracy across the world. Give me a group of good ‘ole rednecks who still love the form of government called a representative republic any day over this mess.

      Report Post »  
  • Eblaze44
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 9:10am

    That’s what happens when you have free elections – it’s how the United States got a Socialist Democrat Congress and President – so what is the surprise or the question here – this was the pre determined outcome.

    Report Post » Eblaze44  
  • Ron Staiger
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 8:22am

    This was predicted by many people including me. There will also be no democracy in Egypt, Libya, or Iraq. All will become part of the caliphate that is coming. Democracy is seen by islamic cultists as weakness and will be trumped by the brutality and mayhem of an islami-facist theocracy that is coming to them all. The only thing keeping these wackjobs in check was the brutal dictatorship they lived under and now a much worse evil will fill the vacuum that obama helped to create.

    Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 8:11am

    .
    This is gonna be so great………..

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • Meyvn
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 8:00am

    No. Say it ain’t so.

    Report Post » Meyvn  
    • dogpatch65
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 8:04am

      While this outcome was predictable(and predicted by Glenn and others,) it is nevertheless important to understand how it fits in the grand scheme of all that is coming:
      http://markamerica.com/2011/10/23/update-caliphate-acoming-none-dare-call-it-treason/

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 8:18am

      Afraid it is so…now there will be one step closer to the coming of the Caliphate.

      Once we have w/drawn from Iraq completely watch for the following moves on the part of Iran:

      A. Iraq – puppet regime set up via political election system.

      B. Afghanistan — gains support of Taliban or Karzai in opposition to US for support against rivals.

      C. Pakistan – supports various secessionist/tribal/terror bands to cause more discord w/US-Pakistan relationship until w/drawl of US or warfare breaks out.

      D. Syria — Probable washout. Look for more support w/arms and special troops.

      E. Lebanon — Hezbolla will gain more support, and more open with “civilian” projects that actually include a fair amount of advanced arms.

      F. Turkey — stirred up trouble via Kurdish extremist groups supported by Iran (enemy of my enemy)

      G. Bahrain — US Fleet base/gate to Saudi Arabia.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • NewLife56
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 8:00am

    Have you noticed that the country‘s that aren’t Islamist governments, Obama attacks, and they go Islamic? Have you noticed that ones like Iran, Syria etc that are already Islamist rule, he doesn’t attack even though they are killing more of their own citizens than Libya etc?

    Kinda makes you think he wants Islamist country’s huh?

    Report Post » NewLife56  
    • poorrichard09
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 8:22am

      Another piece of the caliphate. The young woman in the first picture-when the islamists take over she won’t be wearing her western-style clothes, they will put her in a burkha.

      Report Post »  
  • TxMadMac
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 7:54am

    Come in to my parlor , said the spider to the fly……. They know not what they have brought upon themselves. Their ignorance will turn their sad life into pure misery !

    Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 7:57am

      A whole life time of brainwashing and they’ll elect who wants to be elected. Sounds like our welfare set here.

      Report Post »  
    • PubliusPencilman
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 8:03am

      Have you noticed how gets the entire story from the AP, and all it seems to contribute is that the page title (look up at the title bar of the browser) messes up and calls it “Tunia’s Islamist Party.” That’s some fantastic journalism there! That totally justifies taking credit for the story in the byline: “AP/Blaze.”

      Report Post »  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on October 24, 2011 at 9:38am

      When the AP stumbles upon the truth , the Blaze may as well point it out.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on October 24, 2011 at 7:46am

    Is anyone surprised? How long until Iraq becomes a theocracy now?

    Report Post » Gonzo  

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