The Islamist Ennahda party of Tunisia has claimed victory in the country’s first municipal elections since the 2011 uprising which sparked the so called Arab Spring.


Exit polls show that its secularist rival, Nidaa Tounis, is 5% behind. Both parties make up Tunisia’s ruling coalition. The Tunisian prime minister, Youssef Chahed, described the poll as an important step that would complete the move towards democracy.



Turnout stands at just under 34%.



Commentators say voters are disillusioned with a lack of economic progress. Tunisia currently has an inflation rate of around 8% and unemployment stands at more than 15%. The government’s new austerity budget was met with a wave of protests earlier this year.



https://www.theafricanprogressiveeconomist.com/tunisia-islamist-party-claims-election-victory/news-desk/