Iran Lauds Tunisia Elections

October, 08, 2019 - 15:37
Politics news

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry hailed the presidential and parliamentary elections in Tunisia as a sign of rule of democracy in the North African country.

In a statement on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi lauded Tunisia’s success in holding the first round of presidential voting last month and the parliamentary election on Sunday.

Congratulating the “friendly and brotherly” government and nation of Tunisia, the Iranian spokesman said the elections and the smooth transition of power in Tunisia signify the strengthening of democracy and the role of people in the North African state.

Mousavi also expressed hope that Tunisia’s presidential runoff vote slated for next week would be held successfully again.

In Tunisia’s parliamentary election on Sunday, conservative Ennahdha party came first.

The results show that Rached Ghannouchi's moderate Islamist party would secure 40 seats in the 217-strong parliament. It was followed closely by Qalb Tounes, a relatively new party founded by jailed media mogul Nabil Karoui, at 15.6 percent or 33 seats.

Karoui, one of the two candidates to advance to Tunisia's presidential runoff vote that will be held next week, claimed in a statement that his party had come first.

More than 1,500 lists and 15,000 candidates on Sunday ran for 217 seats, with registered political parties and independents vying for control of the single chamber.