Tunisians vote in landmark election

Tunisian polls have opened for elections as the country votes for its first full parliament under a constitution that was passed last year.

Voting stations opened early on Sunday to elect a five-year legislative assembly composed of 217 members. Over 50,000 security personnel and almost 20,000 soldiers have reportedly been deployed to ensure safe voting. On Thursday, militants shot a policeman on the outskirts of the Tunisian capital of Tunis.

"We know that this (the election) will be a target because it is unique in the region. It brings hope", Tunisian Prime Minister Mehdi Jouma said.

Tunisia ousted authoritarian leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011 in what is considered to have been the start of the ‘Arab Spring’- a pro-democracy movement in several Arab countries. While countries like Libya and Egypt have struggled to cope with the aftermath of their leaders’ deposition, Tunisia is considered to have had a successful outcome, with relatively low levels of violence. 

Over 100 political parties are running. The moderate Islamist Ennahda party, that won Tunisia’s 2011 national election, is expected to perform strongly. It has promised to create a unity government, even if it winsthe majority of seats. Its main rival is expected to be the liberal Nidaa Tounes (Tunisia’s Call), led by 87-year-old Beji Caid Essebsi. Former Ben Ali officials are also running and are expected to perform strongly in certain Tunisian regions.

While around five million Tunisians have registered to vote, some observers fear a low turn-out, saying that Tunisians have become disillusioned with politics after a lack of economic progress and a high level of unemployment following Ben Ali’s deposition.

Results are expected on Wednesday.

Tunisia will hold a presidential election on 23 November, which will see the country’s first directly elected leader.