Sat 17 December 2022:
Saturday’s vote appears to inspire little enthusiasm across Tunisia amid widespread disillusionment over political dysfunction and an ongoing economic crisis.
It comes 12 years after Tunisian vegetable seller Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in an act of protest that sparked the Arab Spring – a series of popular uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa.
Only about a quarter of registered voters turned out to vote “yes” in July in a referendum on a new constitution, which gave the president the ultimate authority over the government and judiciary.
Low traffic as polling stations open in Tunis
Reporting from the capital and largest city, Tunis, Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra said few people were waiting to vote when polls opened at 8am (07:00 GMT).
“Very few people have so far turned out at the polling station that you can see right behind me,” he said.
“Now this was packed with people about three years ago when I was here, covering the presidential election,” he said, referring to the 2019 run-off between President Saied and opponent Nabil Karoui.
“The opposition has been saying that this is going to be a very low voter turnout,” he said. “They say this is something that goes against the very spirit of the 2011 uprising in Tunisia that ushered in unprecedented democratic gains in the country and gave huge voice to the parliament, the judiciary system and to other institutions.”
Manoubia Shagawi was the first voter during a slow morning at polling site in Tunis [Elizia Volkmann/Al Jazeera]
Heavy security on anniversary of uprising
Entering the city centre in Tunis, there were metal barriers and police check points bristling with officers pacing and cradling their rifles.
“They used to do this under Ben Ali to make us afraid,” said Taxi driver Aymen, refering to the former strongman leader ousted in 2011 with a laugh.
At 08:05 (07:05 GMT), a crowd of press crowded around the Rue de Marseille voting station, but only one person had voted.
“I want to support my country and to support my president. I want the country to go forward and get better and that’s why I voted today,” said local small businesswoman Manoubia Shagawi.
It was a far different sentiment among young people gathered at a nearby cafe. When asked if they planned to vote, their answer was definite: “No!”
Food shortages underscore economic crisis
Food, medicine and fuel shortages have been a recurring theme of Tunisian life throughout 2022.
Many people are angry that after promising so much, President Saied has concentrated on political changes – such as bringing in a new constitution – rather than finding economic solutions to their most pressing needs.
For his part, Saied has previously blamed speculators for the food shortages, but his opponents say he is to blame for failing to revive the country’s economy.
“I’m not sure why there’s no soda pop, I don’t know, there’s lots of products missing, like rice and tea and coffee,” Mohammed, a shelf-stacker at a supermarket in Tunis, told Al Jazeera. “But it’s not just missing products, it’s the prices, look at that bottle of oil, 1.8 litres it’s 18 dinars now ($15.7), it was seven ($2.2) or eight dinars ($2.5) before, it’s more than doubled.”
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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