Council Of Europe Praises Tunisia's 'Exemplary Poll'

The Council of Europe has praised Tunisia after it held its first full parliamentary elections following the adoption of a new constitution in the north African country in January which created a 217-seat Assembly of the Representatives of the People.



The statement came on Monday after PACE observed the 26 October polls, which were held under tight security conditions with the government deploying about 80,000 police and army troops to guard polling centers.



Andreas Gross, head of the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said:  "The delegation of the Council of Europe to Tunisia wishes to draw attention to the exemplary nature of the elections and hopes that those who did not win will display the same political maturity as ordinary citizens by accepting the result of the poll."



"The elections were free, inclusive and transparent."



"The Assembly of the Representatives of the People that has been elected is genuinely representative of the people, with the kind of legitimacy required to take necessary and essential decisions, in the national interest," he added.



According to preliminary results obtained by Anadolu Agency, Nidaa Tounes won 83 seats (38 percent), Ennahda 68 (31 percent), Free Patriotic Union 17 (7 percent), Popular Front 12 (5 percent) and Afek Tounes nine (four percent) in the Constituent Assembly which will later choose a new prime minister.



 



'Historic turning point'



 



Gross added:  "PACE will continue to actively assist its Tunisian partners in their efforts to democratize Tunisia and another delegation will visit the country to observe the first round of the presidential election on 23 November 2014." 



French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in a statement: "These elections mark a historic turning point in Tunisian history."



"Nearly four years after the revolution, Tunisians went to polls to create a new democratic institution for the second republic. Tunisians are reaffirming their commitment to democracy."



After a 2011 revolt in Tunisia, Ennahda won most seats in Tunisia's first free election and formed a coalition with Moncef Marzouki as President.



The 2011 elections were the first democratic polls after the fall of Ben Ali, who had been in power for 23 years before being removed in a popular uprising.



Presidential elections are scheduled in Tunisia for 23 November.



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