Tunisians began voting on Sunday in its first-ever free elections with an Islamic party poised to win.7.2 million Tunisians to elect a constituent assembly that will pave the way
for a new government and rewrite the nation's constitution.
Tunisia ,a country from where 'Arab Spring' began and inspired revolution across the Arab world is experiencing historic first free elections on Sunday after the toppling of strongman Zine el Abidine Ben Ali.
Tunisia is located in north-central Africa, between Algeria and Libya having a lengthy Mediterranean coast But the results will prove the world how Islam and democracy coexist in the Arab World.But Tunisia ,the first country to throw off its dictator has managed to set an example to a certain extent by elections for other Arab countries where uprisings have triggered political change for more reforms .
Poltical parties agenda and challenges
During the campaigning ,the political parties were Rhetoric in establishing a democractic society with giving equal rights to men and women and will provide good governance ,ensuring justice and rule of law.
But formidable challenges remain ie unemployment , a lagging economy,unreformed judicial system and social and economic justice that forced President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali to flee to Saudi Arabia.
There are 81 political parties as well as hundreds of independent candidates which are competing in October 23 elections.
Voters will elect a 217-member assembly that will rewrite the constitution after two decades under Ben Ali.The most important part is the future of civil liberties — and the likelihood of Islamist victories in other countries.
Until this past January, Ben Ali's Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD) party dominated the legislature. Only a handful of opposition parties, such as the Progressive Democratic Party and Ettakatol were allowed to operate.The Islamist al-Nahda and the centre-left Congress Party for the Republic were banned.
Main Political parties
The previously banned Islamist Al nahda party is tipped to win, with the ISIE independent polling commission reminding candidates and journalists that today would be an "election silence day".
Al Nahda party ,founded in 1981 was banned and crushed by former president Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali in 1990s.
There are enough indications Al Nahda set to become the largest party in the assembly that will write the nation's new constitution
Tunisia has a socially liberal Arab society and Al Nahda party's strategy to to target the potential voters.The party favours the moderate form of Islam ie. equal rights for men and women
Tunisian Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi has urged citizens to vote "without fear" in the country's first elections since the January ousting of president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali.
The seemingly entrenched dictator was forced to flee to Saudi Arabia in January, a month into a leaderless uprising driven by social injustice, poverty and corruption.
"Any overstepping or breach ... amounts to an electoral crime punishable by law," it warned in a statement.
The secular Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) views al-Nahda as its rival.it was founded in 1983 by Ahmed Najib Chebbi.
Ettakatol also known as Democratic Forum for Labor and Freedoms is competing head to head with the PDP as per polls.
This center-left party has a strong following in the country Known as a party of intellectuals -main agenda is to reduce corruption
Like Ettakatol, the Congress Party for the Republic (CPR) is also a centre-left, secular party. The party was founded in 2001 but banned the following year. Moncef Marzouki, a human rights activist ran the CPR .Moreover,CPR has showed his willingness to form a coalition with Annahda.
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