Tunisia was on Sunday holding its third presidential election since its uprising in 2011, with the atmosphere tense after protests over the jailing of one candidate.
The president of the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE), Farouk Bouasker, said at the Palais Des Congres Media Centre that it recorded an initial turnout of 27.7 per cent, according to data collected after all polling stations closed at 6pm local time.
Only 28.5 per cent of eligible voters in Tunisia took part, while of the more than 600,000 living abroad, about 16 per cent began casting ballots in 58 countries on Friday, the ISIE said.
Only 6 per cent of those aged 18 to 35 voted in the presidential elections, compared to 94 per cent aged 36 and above. More than nine million Tunisians are eligible to vote.
President Kais Saied is vying for a second five-year term and faces little competition, with only two candidates standing against him: Zouheir Maghzaoui of the pan-Arab nationalist People’s Movement, and Ayachi Zammel of the Azimoun party.
Mr Zammel is in prison starting a sentence of 13 years and eight months for falsifying the signatures of voters needed to endorse his candidacy, but the sentence must be approved by the Court of Cassation to be considered final.
ISIE board member Najla Abrougui told journalists there is a possibility that the votes obtained by Mr Zammel could be cancelled. "There is a legal text that keeps this hypothesis on the table,” Ms Abrougui said.
According to article 143 of the basic law regulating the election authority's functions, which was amended a few days before Sunday's vote, the results obtained by candidates could be partially or entirely cancelled if there has been a conclusive ruling indicating that they have committed violations that had an effect on the integrity of the electoral process.
Despite the low turn out in Sunday's vote, many of those who showed up say that this political event is the only way they believe they can improve their situation.
"I came here to vote for the right guy that would take into consideration our country's interests and the Tunisian people's conditions," Sebti Ben Nssib, 73, a retiree from the private sector, told The National after casting his ballot at the Rue De Marseille school polling station.
Mr Ben Nssib says he hopes the president he voted for would be able to improve the livelihoods of people, with basic rights such as education, health care, decent housing and a better socio-economic situation for all.
"If Tunisians would all come together hand in hand, by God's will our situation with be much better," he said.
Mr Ben Nssib's wife, Halima, a retiree from the Ministry of Social Affairs, echoed her husband's hope for change in several vital sectors to be fulfilled after the election.
"We need to help our country stand up again and we want to see some changes in the economic situation," she told The National.
"We want to ensure that we create a decent ground to raise future generations and for that reason we can only have big hope in the future."
The presidential election is the third since a 2011 uprising ousted long-serving president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Observers and voters have criticised the lack of competition this time after candidates were disqualified. The elections authority has barred 14 candidates from taking part, citing insufficient endorsements and other technicalities.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Tunis on Friday, decrying what they called growing repression.
More than 5,000 polling stations and 9,600 voting offices were open in 24 governorates across the nation on Sunday. About 57 tents have also been set up in the remote rural areas of Ben Arous, Ariana, El Kef, Monastir and Sfax to enable voting.
Preliminary results are expected on Monday evening, spokesman for the electoral authority, Mohamed Tlili Mansri, told state-owned news agency Tap.
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The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
Engine 3.9L twin-turbo V8
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Tamkeen's offering
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Red Joan
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Tereza Srbova
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MWTC info
Tickets to the MWTC range from Dh100 and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ae or by calling 800 86 823 from within the UAE or 971 4 366 2289 from outside the country and all Virgin Megastores. Fans looking to attend all three days of the MWTC can avail of a special 20 percent discount on ticket prices.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
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THE LOWDOWN
Photograph
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Director: Ritesh Batra
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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At a glance
- 20,000 new jobs for Emiratis over three years
- Dh300 million set aside to train 18,000 jobseekers in new skills
- Managerial jobs in government restricted to Emiratis
- Emiratis to get priority for 160 types of job in private sector
- Portion of VAT revenues will fund more graduate programmes
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More on Quran memorisation:
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Day 3, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Just three balls remained in an exhausting day for Sri Lanka’s bowlers when they were afforded some belated cheer. Nuwan Pradeep, unrewarded in 15 overs to that point, let slip a seemingly innocuous delivery down the legside. Babar Azam feathered it behind, and Niroshan Dickwella dived to make a fine catch.
Stat of the day - 2.56 Shan Masood and Sami Aslam are the 16th opening partnership Pakistan have had in Tests in the past five years. That turnover at the top of the order – a new pair every 2.56 Test matches on average – is by far the fastest rate among the leading Test sides. Masood and Aslam put on 114 in their first alliance in Abu Dhabi.
The verdict Even by the normal standards of Test cricket in the UAE, this has been slow going. Pakistan’s run-rate of 2.38 per over is the lowest they have managed in a Test match in this country. With just 14 wickets having fallen in three days so far, it is difficult to see 26 dropping to bring about a result over the next two.
Day 2, stumps
Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
Australia trail by 452 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings
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The National selections
6.30pm Majestic Thunder
7.05pm Commanding
7.40pm Mark Of Approval
8.15pm Mulfit
8.50pm Gronkowski
9.25pm Walking Thunder
10pm Midnight Sands
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
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