Tunisians have been voting in a presidential election on Sunday as they choose a new leader following the death of Beji Caid Essebsi.
This is the second time Tunisia is holding a free presidential election since 2011 when an uprising toppled ex-president Ben Ali.
There are no overwhelming front-runners in this election though. Polling stations opened at 07:00 GMT at most polling centres.
There are 26 candidates vying for the presidency including Prime Minister Youssef Chahed and two former prime ministers.
There is also a former president and the defence minister running for the top job. They are all hoping to win outright.
Un seul bureau de vote est prêt ! Celui où va voter Mourou…. c’est quoi cette organisation de @ISIETN !!? Est ce une volonté de saboter ces élections ?! #Tunisia.#tnelec2019 #Tnelection #TnPres19 #Tunisie #tunisiavotes #TunisiaDecides pic.twitter.com/ZgFB0Dr4O5
— Dr. Ghazi Ben Ahmed (@Gbaghazi) September 15, 2019
A candidate needs a majority of votes to win the election. If none of them wins more than 50% then there would be a second round run-off.
The two candidates with most votes will face a second, decisive round in the event of a second round.
Former President Essebsi won Tunisia’s first free presidential elections in 2014. He died at 92 this year – at the time the oldest sitting president in the world.
Parliament speaker Mohamed Ennaceur is currently acting as interim president.
Meanwhile parliamentary elections will take place on October 6.
Source: Africafeeds.com
