An 88-year-old political veteran has been elected president of Tunisia, a country whose young people once electrified the world by overthrowing its 73-year-old dictator in 2011 and triggering the Arab Spring uprisings across the region.

The election result is a measure of Tunisia's yearning for a return to stability: After four hard years of democratic transition, violence and economic crises this one-time revolution of the youth has turned to a symbol of the old regime.

Beji Caid Essebsi won 55.68 percent of the vote according to Monday's results and campaigned on restoring the "prestige of the state," evoking the legacy of Tunisia's founding father Habib Bourguiba who built the country, educated its people but brooked little opposition.

Essebsi defeated the human rights activist who became the interim president after the revolution, Moncef Marzouki, who took 44.32 percent of the vote. Exit polls had predicted similar results soon after the voted ended Sunday night.

Alone among the countries that experienced the pro-democracy uprisings of the Arab Spring, the transition in Tunisia has remained on track but it has still been buffeted by the turmoil in the region, which brought down the Islamists that first won elections after the revolution.

As the economic problems mounted and radical extremists began assassinating politicians in 2013, the moderate Islamist Ennahda (Renaissance) party and its ally Marzouki lost popularity. "It's the failure of Marzouki that made Essebsi look like a statesman that would help Tunisians face and cope with these major challenges," said Kamel Labidi, a former journalist and freedom of expression advocate, explaining the popularity of Essebsi and his party Nida Tunis (Tunisia's Call).

He cautioned, though, that many in Nida Tunis, a loose collection of old regime officials and trade unionists, do not have a reputation for caring about human rights and Essebsi himself never spoke out against the autocratic rule of Bourguiba or his successor Zine El Abdine Ben Ali.

The victory of Nida Tunis in parliamentary elections in October will give Essebsi unprecedented power to shape the country now, as he will dominate both the executive and legislative branches. Economist Ezzedine Saidane said that is a good thing in light of the titanic economic challenges the country is facing, including high inflation, unemployment and public debt, with low foreign investment and a weak banking sector.

"The two executives (president and prime minister) working together in a harmonious manner will be extremely important for a successful transition to stable institutions and a healthy democracy," he said.

U.S. President Barack Obama congratulated Essebsi on his election and the country's transition to democracy in a statement issued by the embassy in Tunis. "The strong commitment by Tunisia's leaders and the Tunisian people to inclusive political dialogue, consensus-building, and democratic values has been crucial to the success of the political transition and will be equally important during the next phase," he said.

Reconciliation may well be an early priority for Essebsi. After claiming victory Sunday night, he reached out to Marzouki's supporters and called on them to work with him to rebuild the country. Marzouki was backed by Tunisia's Islamists, but also of large swaths of the impoverished south.

In its report on the eve of elections, the International Crisis Group said the past few months have revealed the deep divisions in Tunisian society and cautioned that the next president must pursue conciliatory policies.

"Whoever wins the presidential election will have to work alongside the new government and parliament to calm both camps' anxieties, address their legitimate grievances and heal the country's divisions," the NGO said.

Essebsi's party was largely formed in opposition to Ennahda and an actual coalition with the Islamists would be a hard sell among its members, but the door has been left open for some kind of informal cooperation.

Tunisia is under a great deal of pressure regionally as democratic experiments in neighboring countries have disintegrated into fighting or military rule. Countries in the region like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Egypt are also opposed to any political involvement of Islamist parties.

Voting was largely pronounced free and fair, with a participation rate of 60 percent, less than elections in October and November, and with lower participation among young people. "Voter participation decreased with each successive election," said Scott Mastic of the International Republican Institute that observed the elections and noted low youth participation. "The potential for growing disillusionment with the country's politics is a concern and something Tunisia's new leaders must be prepared to address."

Riots did erupt Sunday night in the southern cities of Gabes and Tatouine where young people clashed with police and burned Nida Tunis headquarters and two police stations.

http://www.mail.com/int/news/world/3272588-88-year-old-ex-minister-wins-tunisia-election.html#.2394-stage-set1-5

What would anti Buhari fans say about this?

Kudos to him. Btw how many terms can he live to enjoy

Buhari should be hopeful then

ollah1:
What would anti Buhari fans say about this?

Exactly why Africa is backward

If truly 88years,he's about 16years older than Buhari. O ga o!

ollah1:
What would anti Buhari fans say about this?

What does 'this' got to do with GMB
Use ur head.....bro

mikeansy:


Exactly why Africa is backward

Is age competence determinant?

horlah005:


What does 'this' got to do with GMB
Use ur head.....bro

You are new to Nairaland i assume.

wia ar dox pdp e-thugs dat sae buhari is old?..let dem cum nd see 88yrs oldman dat has just bin elected

This story is ment for the Nigerian jaanjaaweedds

We shall not allow such shyte here in Nigeria.

QED

This verifys futher that leadership isnt about age but the will to serve. If the man is willing yes he can afterall no be cement dem dey carry for govt house. Gmb 2015

mikeansy:


Exactly why Africa is backward

No! My friend, what we need are results - Don't you ever forget that. What is the essence of voting a 57Year old drunk [Abi wetin be the age of that fedora-hat wearing womanizer wey dey lubricate the congo of Diezani Madueke & Arunma Oteh?] who knows next to zilch about governance?

If it's a 140Year old man that will produce those results, then we shall gladly empower him with our votes. In this case - 2015 Sai GMB!

ollah1:


You are new to Nairaland i assume.

Ur assumption might be right but still, what has this got 2do with gmb ?

ollah1:


Is age competence determinant?

You only have to look at the countries where old men recycle themselves and stay forever and compare them with countries with leaders in their prime age of 40s and 50s and tell us which countries are doing better

Again like I say, elections of 88 year old men is an example of why Africa is backward

so "our nl people" have hope then.

no need to rush into marriage, take your time, there's no hurry.

God's time is the best.

continue what you were doing in family section (romance too).

mikeansy:


You only have to look at the countries where old men recycle themselves and stay forever and compare them with countries with leaders in their prime age of 40s and 50s and tell us which countries are doing better

Again like I say, elections of 88 year old men is an example of why Africa is backward

Down in Nigeria, what are the archivements of leaders in their prime ranging from 40s to 50s? Name just 5 leaders that has done that and i will give you countless numbers of those that haven't

horlah005:


Ur assumption might be right but still, what has this got 2do with gmb ?

Check the comments above yours

Becos the man is 88yrs, we shud consider Buhari to equalise the logic of presenting old people, right? It doesn't sound nice to me. Bring the good part of Tunisa and compare with Nigeria not old men. @ OP

President Essebsi, a lifetime in Tunisia politics

The new president of Tunisia , 88-year-old Beji Caid Essebsi is known by Tunisians as the “old wolf.” This is not just because of his advanced age but because of a political career that began in 1941. A former disciple of the first post-independence president of Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba, he learned the basics of military activism during Tunisia’s liberation from France.

Essebsi’s political career began in earnest after Tunisia’s independence in 1956. As well as being one of President Habib Bourguiba’s advisors, he served as Interior Minister, Defence Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister.

After the November 1987 Ben Ali coup against Bourguiba, Essebsi switched allegiances and joined the new leader’s Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD).

In 1990 and 1991 he served as the President of the Chamber of Deputies under Ben Ali, a period that today Essebsi would rather forget.

In 1991 he decided to retire from his political career but returned two decades later in 2011. In the same year Essebsi became the new prime minister of the transitional government following the revolution and was in charge of drafting Tunisia’s new constitution.



Also in 2011 he founded his own secular party, Nidaa Tunes, with the aim of creating an opposition force to the Islamist Ennahda party.

However, later that same year, the Ennahda Party won the elections with a majority.

Essebsi’s revenge came in October 2014 when Nidaa Tunes beat the ruling Islamist Ennahda Party.

As president, Essebsi faces many challenges ahead, not least his age, but also that many Tunisians still remember his role in the Ben Ali regime.

http://www.euronews.com/2014/12/22/president-essebsi-a-lifetime-in-tunisia-politics/

Congrat to the Tunisians but this guy has been in Government since God knows when... Anyway, the revolutionists have been defeated in a free and fair poll despite enjoying incumbency.

barcanista:
Congrat to the Tunisians but this guy has been in Government since God knows when... Anyway, the revolutionists have been defeated in a free and fair poll despite enjoying incumbency.

Mohamed Bouazizi (set himself ablaze exactly four years ago on 17 December 2010 and died on 4 January 2011) the guy who ignited the Arab Spring (no pun intended) and others who died along with him must be turning in their graves now!

johnie:


Mohamed Bouazizi (set himself ablaze exactly four years ago on 17 December 2010 and died on 4 January 2011) the guy who ignited the Arab Spring (no pun intended) and others who died along with him must be turning in his grave now!

It may be that the revolutionists aren't good politicians. They may probably be riding on the goodwill of 2011 forgetting that politics is not about yesterday's strategy but that of today.

ollah1:
What would anti Buhari fans say about this?

This is why our continent never moves forward... recycling worn out rulers.

There's nothing revolutionary about this guy. The same content, different container. Very similar to a country I know quite well.

barcanista:
It may be that the revolutionists aren't good politicians. They may probably be riding on the goodwill of 2011 forgetting that politics is not about yesterday's strategy but that of today.

This is the reason why we need to be careful when people yearn for change just for the sake of change.

How many revolutions have actually benefitted the people.

I usually recommend George Orwell's classic "Animal Farm" to those who call for revolutions.

History is replete with people like Stalin (Russian Revolution)), Mao (China's Cultural Revolution), Roberspierre (French Revolution) who turned to dictators after their revolutions.

You also have people who hijack these revolutions. People like Morsi (a fundametalist) and Asisi (a soldier) in Egypt, the Islamists in Tunisia, Blaise Campaore of Bourkina Faso, those who took advantage of Nigeria's June 12 struggles to deceive people and come to power in 1999.

I only pity the families of the pawns who lose all (incuding their lives) in these revolutions.

I hope people will learn.

johnie:


This is the reason why we need to be careful when people yearn for change just for the sake of change.

How many revolutions have actually benefitted the people.

I usually recommend George Orwell's classic "Animal Farm" to those who call for revolutions.

History is replete with people like Stalin (Russian Revolution)), Mao (China's Cultural Revolution), Roberspierre (French Revolution) who turned to dictators after their revolutions.

You also have people who hijack these revolutions. People like Morsi (a fundametalist) and Asisi (a soldier) in Egypt, the Islamists in Tunisia, Blaise Campaore of Bourkina Faso, those who took advantage of Nigeria's June 12 struggles to deceive people and come to power in 1999.

I only pity the families of the pawns who lose all (incuding their lives) in these revolutions.

I hope people will learn.

Thank you bros. I am not a proponent of violent revolution(I was sometime ago). It is always a cycle, Ayetollah Kameni led Iranian Revolution in the 70s, he transformed into a mini god in Iran, more powerful than the President of that country. See Libya, chartallans hijacked their struggle and it has become a free-for-all fight. In Syria, it has become a case of scores to settle between Pro and Anti Assad elements. The countries you mentioned aren't different. This is why I will always advocate for e mental revolution, where people are empowered to take advantage of their thumb and vote out failed government by resisting every form of intimidation rather that burn the country-Just like what obtained in Cote'd Voire in 2010-2011. The victims that lost their lives during the Arab Spring died for nothing.

barcanista:
Thank you bros. I am not a proponent of violent revolution(I was sometime ago). It is always a cycle, Ayetollah Kameni led Iranian Revolution in the 70s, he transformed into a mini god in Iran, more powerful than the President of that country. See Libya, chartallans hijacked their struggle and it has become a free-for-all fight. In Syria, it has become a case of scores to settle between Pro and Anti Assad elements. The countries you mentioned aren't different. This is why I will always advocate for e mental revolution, where people are empowered to take advantage of their thumb and vote out failed government by resisting every form of intimidation rather that burn the country-Just like what obtained in Cote'd Voire in 2010-2011. The victims that lost their lives during the Arab Spring died for nothing.

You nailed it bro!

Syria, Iraq and Libya are perfect examples of what could happen to Nigeria in 2015 if care is not taken. God forbid!

I hope our people will learn from all the examples both of us have listed above and avoid violence in 2015.

There are vultures waiting to prey on Nigeria and Nigerians.

johnie:


This is the reason why we need to be careful when people yearn for change just for the sake of change.

How many revolutions have actually benefitted the people.

I usually recommend George Orwell's classic "Animal Farm" to those who call for revolutions.

History is replete with people like Stalin (Russian Revolution)), Mao (China's Cultural Revolution), Roberspierre (French Revolution) who turned to dictators after their revolutions.

You also have people who hijack these revolutions. People like Morsi (a fundametalist) and Asisi (a soldier) in Egypt, the Islamists in Tunisia, Blaise Campaore of Bourkina Faso, those who took advantage of Nigeria's June 12 struggles to deceive people and come to power in 1999.

I only pity the families of the pawns who lose all (incuding their lives) in these revolutions.

I hope people will learn.

The highlighted is very instructive but many have sold their conscience for pittance crumbs from those who have deprived us into depravity!

johnie:



You nailed it bro!

Syria, Iraq and Libya are perfect examples of what could happen to Nigeria in 2015 if care is not taken. God forbid!

I hope our people will learn from all the examples both of us have listed above and avoid violence in 2015.

There are vultures waiting to prey on Nigeria and Nigerians.

Heaven knows that no member of my immediate family nor myself will participate in any form of violence to bring down the country. I tell you that lots of political opportunists are waiting by the sideline to take advantage of any uprising that be result from the 2015 polls. I will vote APC in the Presidential contest, I will stay at polling unit to monitor the voting process and counting of the votes. If any party have cause to believe that the election was rigged, I will encourage appeal to the court or tribunal up to Supreme Court. That I believe is healthy for a democratic society.

anonimi:


The highlighted is very instructive but many have sold their conscience for pittance crumbs from those who have deprived us into depravity!

Rightly said, some politicians benefit from instability and uprising along with their Military conspirators