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Agence France-Presse

Conservative academic Kais Saied, a political outsider, was headed for a landslide victory Sunday in Tunisia’s presidential run-off, sweeping aside his rival, media magnate Nabil Karoui, exit polls said.
In a contest that reflected Tunisia’s shifting post-revolution political landscape, Saied, an independent, scooped 72.5 per cent of the vote according to the Emrhold exit poll, and 76.9 per cent in the Sigma one – over 40 points ahead of Karoui.
Thousands of people took to the streets of the capital Tunis to celebrate Saied’s victory, honking horns and singing the national anthem.
“It’s a historic day: Tunisia is reaping the fruits of the revolution,” said Boussairi Abidi, a 39-year-old mechanic. “Kais Saied is going to put an end to corruption, he will be a fair president.”

The official results are expected Monday.
In his first reaction, Saied thanked the country’s young people “for turning a new page,” and vowed to try to build “a new Tunisia”.
Around 90 per cent of 18 to 25-year-olds voted for Saied, according to estimates by the Sigma polling institute, compared with 49.2 per cent of voters over 60.
“Kais Saied, voice of the people,” a gathered crowd chanted. “Long live Tunisia!”
Jailed Tunisian presidential candidate freed days before election
“We are very happy. Tunisia has an honest man at the helm now. The difference between the two candidates was the work he has been doing,” said Mustafa El Ghali, a family member.
The run-off was contested by two political newcomers – pitting Saied, nicknamed “Robocop,” against businessman, Karoui, who is dubbed Tunisia’s “Berlusconi”.

They trounced the old guard in a September 15 first round, highlighting voter anger over a stagnant economy, joblessness and poor public services in the cradle of the Arab spring.
Adding controversy and suspense to the contest, Karoui only walked free on Wednesday, having spent more than a month behind bars on suspicion of money-laundering.
The poll, Tunisia’s second free presidential elections since its 2011 revolt, followed the death of president Beji Caid Essebsi in July. Turnout was higher than in the first round, and estimated at around 57 per cent.
In one polling station, voters said they were divided between “the one who will apply the law” and the one “who helps the poor,” referring to a charity television show that boosted Karoui’s popularity.
The 56-year-old business tycoon Karoui portrayed himself as a bulwark against political Islam, which he accused his rival of supporting.
Saied, a 61-year-old constitutional law expert, whose low-cost, door-to-door campaign caught fire in the country, called for Tunisians “to make a choice today in complete freedom”.

“You have created a new concept of revolution, let your conscience guide you,” he said, casting his ballot.
Saied campaigned upon the values of the 2011 revolution, based on opposition to Westernised and corrupt elites, and in favour of radical decentralisation.
“Congratulations to Tunisia; less for whom they voted, and more for showing a continued commitment to resolving differences via peaceful transitions,” said H.A Hellyer, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, in a tweet.
For what was the third election in four weeks, some Tunisians organised car-sharing and free transport for students who had to travel far to their hometowns to cast their ballots.
“I am doing it out of love for my country. I support the one who embodies hope for Tunisia,” said taxi driver Bakri who offered free rides to Saied supporters between Tunis and the coastal city of Nabeul.
The Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party, which won the most seats in parliament in general elections earlier this month, had called on supporters to back Saied.
But the run-off outcome had remained uncertain, with a ban on opinion polls.

Saied topped the first round with 18.4 per cent of votes, while Karoui followed with 15.6 per cent.
While the candidates were both seen as anti-establishment figures, the contrast between them was sharp, with Saied earning his nickname for his rigid and austere manner.
A social conservative, he has defended the death penalty, criminalisation of homosexuality and a sexual assault law that punishes unmarried couples who engage in public displays of affection.
Saied taught at the Tunis faculty of judicial and political sciences for nearly two decades.
Karoui presented himself as a candidate for the poor and the appeal of the flamboyant candidate, who always appeared in designer suits, stemmed largely from his media empire and philanthropic activity.
After the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the Nessma TV channel that Karoui founded turned from entertainment programming towards news, becoming one of Tunisia’s largest private broadcasters.
Karoui has dismissed the allegations against him as politically motivated.


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Africa

Celebrations as outsider academic Kais Saied set for landslide Tunisia presidency win, exit polls show

Supporters of Tunisian presidential candidate Kais Saied celebrate after unofficial results of the Tunisian presidential election in the capital Tunis. Photo: EPA-EFE

epa07919053 Supporters of Tunisian presidential candidate Kais Saied celebrate after unofficial results of the Tunisian presidential election in the capital Tunis, Tunisia, 13 October 2019. According to exit polls, Kais Saied won by 72 percent. EPA-EFE/MOHAMED MESSARA

13 October 2019, Tunisia, Tunis: Tunisian presidential candidate Kais Saied (R) embraces the Tunisian flag during a press conference after a polling agency says he has overwhelmingly won Tunisia's presidential run-off. Photo: Khaled Nasraoui/dpa

13 October 2019, Tunisia, Tunis: Tunisian presidential candidate Kais Saied (R) speaks during a press conference after a polling agency says he has overwhelmingly won Tunisia's presidential run-off. Photo: Khaled Nasraoui/dpa

epa07919051 Supporters of Tunisian presidential candidate Kais Saied celebrate after unofficial results of the Tunisian presidential election in the capital Tunis, Tunisia, 13 October 2019. According to exit polls, Kais Saied won by 72 percent. EPA-EFE/MOHAMED MESSARA

Jailed Tunisian presidential candidate Nabil Karoui freed days before election

Tunisian presidential candidate Nabil Karoui greets his supporters after being released from Mornaguia prison near the capital Tunis on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

FILE PHOTO: Presidential candidate Kais Saied is pictured at his campaign headquarters, as the country awaits the official results of the presidential election, in Tunis, Tunisia September 17, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed/File Photo

CORRECTION - Supporters of Qalb Tounes (Heart of Tunisia) party of Nabil Karoui react to his release from jail outside his party's office in the capital Tunis on October 9, 2019. - The announcement of Karoui's imminent release is the latest twist in a bizarre election dominated by political upstarts in the country whose 2011 revolution sparked the Arab Spring regional uprisings. (Photo by Fethi Belaid / AFP) / “The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by FETHI BELAID has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [FETHI BELAID] instead of [ANIS MILI]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we tha

Tunisia’s presidential vote pits professor versus prisoner

A man reads a newspaper showing candidates Kais Saied, right, and Nabil Karoui on its front page in Tunisia. Photo: AP

In this Tuesday, Sept.17, 2019 photo, Tunisian independent law professor Kais Saied speaks to his supporters and the media after advancing to the second round in the country's presidential elections, in his office in Tunis, Tunisia. The final two contenders for Tunisia's upcoming presidential runoff vote, pitches a professor who refuses to campaign, against a media mogul who can only campaign from his jail cell.(AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

In this Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 photo, supporters of jailed media magnate Nabil Karoui chant for his freedom and carry posters which were provided to them by his campaign officials, in Nabeul, west of Tunis, Tunisia. The two final contenders for Tunisia's upcoming presidential runoff vote, pitches a professor who refuses to campaign, against a media mogul who can only campaign from his jail cell. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

In this Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 photo, supporters of jailed media magnate Nabil Karoui chant for his freedom and carry posters which were provided to them by his campaign officials, in Nabeul, west of Tunis, Tunisia. The two final contenders for Tunisia's upcoming presidential runoff vote, pitches a professor who refuses to campaign, against a media mogul who can only campaign from his jail cell.(AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

In this Sept. 16, 2019 photo, members of Tunisia's independent electoral commission fill out vote results during the vote count, a day after presidential elections in Tunis, Tunisia. The two final contenders for Tunisia's upcoming presidential runoff vote, pitches a professor who refuses to campaign, against a media mogul who can only campaign from his jail cell.(AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

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According to the Emrhold exit poll, Saied scooped 72.5 per cent of the vote, will the official result expected on Monday



According to the Emrhold exit poll, Saied scooped 72.5 per cent of the vote, will the official result expected on Monday.


Celebrations as outsider academic Kais Saied set for landslide Tunisia presidency win, exit polls show

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} According to the Emrhold exit poll, Saied scooped 72.5 per cent of the vote, will the official result expected on Monday

According to the Emrhold exit poll, Saied scooped 72.5 per cent of the vote, will the official result expected on Monday