Essebsi Confirmed As Winner Of Tunisia’s First Free Presidential Poll

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Veteran politician, Beji Caid Essebsi, has been confirmed as winner of Tunisia’s first free presidential poll.

He secured 55.68% of the vote in Sunday’s run-off, defeating caretaker President, Moncef Marzouki who got 44.32% of the votes, the head of the electoral commission said.

Mr Marzouki, a 67-year-old former exile, earlier refused to admit defeat.

Mr Essebsi, 88, has urged all Tunisians to “work together” for stability but critics say his win marks the return of a discredited establishment.

Tunisia was the first country to depose its leader in the Arab Spring and inspired other uprisings in the region.

Tunisia boosted security for the elections and closed border posts with Libya, which has been plagued by unrest.

A group of at least three attackers targeted a polling station near the city of Kairouan on Sunday morning. Security forces say they killed one attacker and arrested three.

Mr Essebsi appeared on local television after polls closed on Sunday, saying, “I dedicate my victory to the martyrs of Tunisia”.

“I thank Marzouki, and now we should work together without excluding anyone,” he added.

Supporters danced and let off fireworks outside the headquarters of Mr Essebsi’s secular-leaning Nidaa Tounes party.

Mr Essebsi held office under both deposed President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali and Tunisia’s first post-independence leader, Habib Bourguiba.

He won the first round of voting last month with 39% of the vote.

He is popular in the wealthy, coastal regions, and based his appeal to voters on stability and experience.