Sebsi and Marzouki compete for presidency in Tunisia

Tunisians voted in the first democratic presidential election since the revolution took place in 2011 sparking Arab uprisings throughout the Middle East and North Africa region. After counting more than 95 per cent of the votes, it became clear that the secular candidate Beji Caid el-Sebsi obtained 39.5 percent followed by Mohamed Moncef Marzouki who received the 33.4 percent of the votes. The official results are expected to be announced next Monday. Despite Sebsi's edge, the two candidates will likely compete in another run-off next month. Around 5.2 million Tunisians were eligible to cast their votes in the election. Around 64 percent of voters showed up at polling stations across the country, according to Tunisia's independent election commission. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry congratulated Tunisians for the vote, calling the country's transition "an inspiration to all those in the region and around the world."

Lazhar Akremi, a Nidaa leader said, "This confirms our win in the parliamentary vote, and that gives us more confidence for the second round." Rachid al-Ghannouchi said, "There is no fear of paddling back to the days of tyranny and injustice. The people of Tunisia are forging their own destiny. The presidential election is a step on a long road. What is needed today is to continue along this road until Tunisia serves as a model for civilizations."

Tunisians voted in parliamentary elections last month with the secular-wing party Nidaa Tounes winning the elections after gaining 85 seats in parliament while the Islamist Ennahda Party gained 69 seats. The party, which has ties to the deposed regime, gained more seats than the Ennahda Party, which had been ruling the country since it gained 89 seats (40 per cent of the votes) in parliament in the 2011 elections held after the removal of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

Tunisia has largely distanced itself from the religious and sectarian chaos of the region that affected Yemen, Libya, Iraq and Syria. Also, the country has not shared the same fate with Egypt where the army ousted the first democratically elected president, Mohammed Morsi. Despite the tension near the Libyan border due to the al-Qaida-inspired Salafi militants and assassination of prominent opposition figures last year, the country has remained on the route of democracy. Tunisia also appeared as the only Arab country where power is shared among Islamists and seculars after the ruling Ennahda party accepted allying with seculars through adopting an unprecedented constitution last year. Therefore, political scientists and regional experts have been favoring Tunisia as a role-model for other Arab countries who have dragged into chaos either under dictatorial rules or under the influence of extremist groups. Although Ennahda lost the last parliamentary elections, its leader 73-year-old Rachid Ghannoushi, after the results were declared, said "What are we celebrating today? We are celebrating freedom. We are celebrating democracy," while the fireworks popped.

Prior to the revolution, Tunisia, despite having a Muslim population, was forcibly secularized under the dictatorship. The men who visited mosques frequently were followed by the police and arrested to investigate whether he was member of any anti-government movement. Female students were prohibited from attending universities unless they agreed to take off their headscarves. For a short time, the ancient regime attempted to ban headscarf wearing, even in the streets. The Ennahda leader and an influential scholar, Islamist Ghannouchi had to live abroad, including Paris and London. After the revolution, which started after a young Tunisian man Mohammad Bouazizi burned himself due to the deteriorating economic conditions and increasing unemployment, the country has started establishing a democratic system.

Essebsi was born in 1926 and studied law in Paris, becoming a lawyer in 1952. From 1957 to 1971, he performed various functions such as director of the regional administration, general director of the Sûreté Nationale, Interior Minister from July 5, 1965 to Sept. 8, 1969, minister-delegate to the prime minister and defense minister from Nov. 7, 1969 to June 12, 1970 and then ambassador to France. From October 1971 to January 1972, he advocated greater democracy in Tunisia and resigned his function, then returned to Tunis. In April 1981, he came back to the government under Mohamed Mzali as minister of foreign affairs, serving until September 1986. In 1987, he was appointed as ambassador to Germany. From 1990 to 1991 he was the president of the Chamber of Deputies. His last parliamentary mandate ended in 1994.

With Sebsi's candidacy, the ousted Ben Ali regime's elements also return to Tunisian politics as Sebsi served as interior minister under Tunisia's first president, Habib Bourguiba, and was later speaker of parliament under Ben Ali. He also fulfilled the prime ministry position during an interim government in 2011, after the former Prime Minister Gannouchi resigned due to the killing of five protesters. Nidaa Tounes rejects the notion that the 88-year-old candidate represents the ancient regime and will harm the gains that were made after the revolution. However, the pro-Ennahda Tunisians are skeptical of him due to his close relations with Ben Ali.

Marzouki was born in 1945, a son of an imam who had to flee to Morocco in 1950s due to the political suppression by the regime. He studied medicine in Strasbourg. He joined activities to support oppressed people. He travelled to India to support Mahatma Ghandi's non-violent resistance and South Africa to support Nelson Mandela against the apartheid regime. He became president of the Arab Commission for Human Rights and as of Jan. 17, 2011 continues as a member of its executive board. In 2001, he founded the Congress for the Republic Party but it was banned by the regime. After the revolution, the Constituent Assembly of Tunisiaelected Marzouki as the interim president.