Early sign in Tunisia of strong Islamist vote

[October 24, 2011]  TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) -- Tunisian authorities counted votes Monday in carefully watched elections, with early signs that a once-banned Islamist party is leading in many constituencies in the country that unleashed uprisings across the Arab world.

Tunisia was known for decades for its repressive leadership but also for its progressive legislation on women and families, which secular-leaning Tunisians fear the moderate Islamist party Ennahda would roll back if it takes a commanding number of seats in the new assembly being created by Sunday's elections.

Ennahda believes that Islam should be the reference point for the country's system and laws but maintains that it will respect women's rights and is committed to democracy and working with other parties.

"During the campaign the Islamist party was quite disciplined in saying they will protect human rights, they will protect the rights of women and maintain equality, but in fact this is an open question," said Ricky Goldstein who observed the elections for the New York-based Human Rights Watch. "Their discourse in some areas was vague and ambiguous."

He did, however, pronounce the contests as "a shining example in terms of the conduct of elections," in an interview with Associated Press Television News. "I think we will see the example of Tunisia influence positively the upcoming elections in Egypt."

Tunisia's landmark elections coincided with declarations in neighboring Libya by its new leaders that the country has been liberated from the yoke of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi. The new leaders also announced plans with a sharply Islamist tone that could rattle their Western backers.

In Tunisia, Radio Mosaique FM posted results from polling stations around the country Monday, with many showing a commanding lead for Ennahda. Officials familiar results elsewhere said the pattern was repeated across the country.

Election commission head Kamel Jendoubi said official results would be released Tuesday afternoon.

Turnout was massive on a day electric with the excitement of Tunisia's first truly free elections in its history, with long lines at polling stations. More than 90 percent of the 4.1 million registered voters, out of a 7.5 million strong electorate, participated, said Boubker Bethabet, Secretary General of the election commission.

Voters were electing a 217-seat constituent assembly that will shape their fledgling democracy, choose a new government and write a new constitution that would pave the way for future elections.

In a surprise second place in many constituencies is the Congress for the Republic party of longtime human rights activist Moncef Marzouki, according to party and electoral officials. Marzouki is known less for his political beliefs than high-profile criticism of the old regime's repression.

Of all the secular parties arrayed against Ennahda in the election, Marzouki's has been the most open to joining a coalition with the Islamist party.

Also a surprise has been the apparent poor showing of the Progressive Democratic Party, the strongest legal opposition group under the old regime, a historic center-left party that has billed itself as the main opponent of Ennahda and defender of secular values.

Preliminary results don't show the party even polling a distant third or fourth in many districts.

Ennahda had been widely expected to perform well, though the key question is whether it would get a majority. Regardless of the result, the party has said it would join a coalition with other parties to ensure a broad-based government.

More than 14,000 local and international observers watched polling stations, including delegations from the European Union and the Carter Center.

Voters included women with headscarves and without, former political prisoners and young people whose Facebook posts helped fuel the revolution.

After 23 years in power, President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown Jan. 14 by a monthlong uprising, sparked by a fruit vendor who set himself on fire in protest of police harassment, then stirred by anger over unemployment, corruption and repression.

The uprising inspired similar rebellions across the Arab world. The autocratic rulers of Egypt and Libya have fallen since, but Tunisia is the first country to hold free elections as a result of the upheaval. Egypt's parliamentary election is set for next month.

President Barack Obama offered congratulations, saying that "less than a year after they inspired the world, the Tunisian people took an important step forward."

France -- Tunisia's former colonial master -- said that with Sunday's elections, the country had "confirmed its role as pioneer." Foreign Minsitry spokesman Bernard Valero said the ballot constituted a "legitimate (source) of national pride."

An Ennahda victory, especially in a comparatively secular society like Tunisia, could have wide implications for similar religious parties in the region.

Preliminary reports indicate voting went smoothly. But some expressed indifference about the elections out of frustration that life has not improved since the revolution. Tunisia's economy and employment, part of the reason for the revolution in the first place, has only gotten worse since Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia because tourists and foreign investors have stayed away.

[Associated Press; By PAUL SCHEMM]

Associated Press writer Bouazza ben Bouazza contributed to this report.

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