Tunisian voters turn out in force for free election

TUNIS, Tunisia – The people who started the Arab Spring shared one of its earliest fruits on Sunday: a free election. Tunisians who brought down a dictator nine months ago waited for hours to select those who will help shape their fledgling democracy.

“The old elections were fraudulent and this one is for our children and grandchildren so that even if I soon die, I will be happy and content,” said Tayyib Awish, resplendent in a crisp white robe and skull cap at a crowded school-cum-polling station in the working class suburb of Hay al-Tadammon near Tunis, the capital.

The spry 83-year-old voted many times for Tunisia’s first two presidents in contests whose results were always known ahead of time, but this time was different. “This is a celebration,” he said, gesturing with a finger stained blue by polling station ink.

Women with headscarves and without, former political prisoners and young people whose Facebook posts helped fuel the revolution also were among those electing a 217-seat assembly that will appoint a new government and then write a new constitution.

It was the first truly free election in the history of Tunisia, which was under the control of President Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali for 23 years. Ben Ali was overthrown Jan. 14 by a monthlong uprising, sparked by a fruit seller who set himself on fire in protest of police harassment, then stirred by anger over unemployment, corruption and repression.

The uprising inspired similar rebellions across the Arab world. The autocratic rulers of Egypt and Libya have fallen since, but Tunisia is the first country to hold free elections as a result of the upheaval. Egypt’s parliamentary election is set for next month.

President Barack Obama offered congratulations, saying that “less than a year after they inspired the world, the Tunisian people took an important step forward.”

The party expected to come out on top is the moderate Islamic movement Ennahda, or renaissance, though no one party is expected to win a majority of assembly seats. An Ennahda victory, especially in a comparatively secular society like Tunisia, could have wide implications for similar religious parties in the region.

Preliminary reports indicate voting went smoothly, with up to 70 percent of registered voters turning out. Results are expected within days.

People waited in line for hours to vote under the strong North African sun.

“Even if I have to stand in line 24 hours, I would not give up the chance to savor this air of freedom,” said former political prisoner Touhami Sakouhi, also voting in Hay al-Tadammon.

In the more affluent Tunis suburb of al-Aouina, 18-year-old language student and former protester Zeinab Souayah said, “I’m going to grow up and think back on these days and tell my children about them.

“It feels great, it’s awesome,” she added, in English.