The result is undeniable, indeed. But it raises a plethora of questions, first among the Tunisian population and then among international observers. The 2,438,954 votes, representing 90.69% of the total votes cast, received by Kais Saied according to the Independent High Authority for Elections, raise serious doubts.
First, there is the particularly low turnout, 29%, meaning less than a third of the population eligible to vote went to the polls. This represents 2,808,548 voters out of 9,753,217 registered voters, a number significantly lower than previous elections post-Arab Spring. This drop in participation reflects a general disengagement of voters from the political process and widespread distrust among Tunisian citizens, who are completely disillusioned by several years of political instability.
Beyond this low turnout, which undermines the legitimacy of the election, the vote was also marked by the absence of any real opposition. "The Tunisian authorities undermined the integrity of the presidential election on October 6, 2024, by amending the electoral law just a few days before the vote. The authorities excluded or arrested opposition candidates and took arbitrary measures against political opponents, independent media, and civil society," notes the NGO Human Rights Watch.
On social media, many Tunisians express their frustration and rejection of this election. "Voted, without conviction. This is the worst electoral experience of my life, just like Kais Saied's term," complains this disappointed voter on X, formerly Twitter.
During his first term, the outgoing president, Kais Saied, consolidated his power by imprisoning numerous opponents and reforming institutions to increase his authority. His strategy seems to have paid off, strengthening his grip on power. His main opponent, Ayachi Zammel, received 7.4% of the votes. His campaign, if it can be called that, was complicated by his imprisonment for much of the electoral period and by convictions related to electoral offenses.