Tunisia: Islamists expect gains in landmark local elections

TUNIS, Tunisia – Scattered irregularities have delayed voting results in Tunisia’s first local elections since the 2011 Arab Spring revolution.

The electoral commission head said Monday that authorities are studying the irregularities and will announce the preliminary results Wednesday.

State television reported an exit poll from Sunday’s vote showing Islamist movement Ennahdha in the lead, followed by President Beji Caid Essebsi’s secular moderate party, Nida Tounes.

Ennahdha supporters celebrated overnight with fireworks in the capital, Tunis.

Turnout in Sunday’s vote was just 33 per cent. Prime Minister Youssef Chahed said the “citizens’ reticence” was a wake-up call for all politicians and urged more government attention to local concerns.

Voter apathy is an especially big problem for Tunisia’s youth, disappointed that more hasn’t changed since the 2011 revolution, which unleashed uprisings around the Arab world.