Tunisia's Ben Ali wins fifth mandate

Tunisia's President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has been re-elected for a fifth, five-year term, with 89.28 percent of votes, the Interior Ministry announced at dawn Monday. Though still a landslide, it was Ben Ali's lowest score since he took power in a bloodless palace coup in 1987 that authorities dub "The Change." He was last re-elected in 2004 with more than 94 percent of votes — a drop from his previous victories, which fluctuated between 99.2 and 99.7 percent.

His latest score reflected the increased space allowed to the opposition. Runner-up Mohamed Bouchiha won 5.01 percent of votes, and Ahmed Inoubli 3.80 percent. Both candidates were viewed as largely cosmetic opposition. The third candidate, Ahmed Brahim of the Ettajdid, or change movement, who presented himself in the campaign as "a real opposition candidate," scored 1.57 percent of votes.

Tunisians also chose 214 lawmakers for the lower house of parliament in Sunday's presidential and legislative elections. Ben Ali's Constitutional and Democratic Rally, or RCD, which has been continuously in power since Tunisia's independence in 1956, won 161 seats. A sprinkling of small opposition and independent parties shared the remaining 53. Hard-line opposition groups and Islamists are outlawed and did not take part in the elections.

AP

Tunisians begin to discuss presidential elections

Months before the October presidential elections, the Tunisian street is already speculating on the winner.

Some politicians and political analysts predict President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali will win, given his long time in office and the resources he can mobilise for his campaign, yet others insist that the elections will provide equal chances so that any of the five candidates can sweep the votes.

"President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali relies on a strong party that has bases across the entire Tunisian soil," said political analyst Salah Ataia, "something that will enable him to launch a strong campaign with known mechanisms that a party in office possesses." It is a fact Ben Ali for which should not be blamed, according to Ataia. "On the other hand, we find divided opposition parties that have wasted the chance to ally and participate with a common agenda. Elections in all countries are the cap of a political and media battle that extends for years. However, in Tunisia, party activities are few and slow."

Khalid Haddad, founder of a website specialising in politics, agreed with Ataia. "There are certain factors that can't be ignored," he said. "The first factor is related to President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, candidate of the ruling party, and his decisive and historical roles in the march of the country, achieving stability and the many gains that have been made. [Though these] hide certain shortcomings in some fields, such as the inequality of distribution of the fruits of national wealth and the slowness of political development in the country, in my opinion, this is a natural in all human experiences."

Khalid Haddad said that the electoral process itself might confuse voters. "There are some people who say that they will run to compete against Ben Ali on an equal footing. I think that this is a sort of manipulation of voters' feelings to deceive them into believing in something that is not currently possible, which is the ability and readiness of the opposition to rule the country."

Magherabia...

Sarkozy in Tunisia to sign business deals

French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived Monday in the Tunisian capital Tunis to begin a three- day state visit during which he will push French business interests and try to shore up support for his plan for a Union for the Mediterranean. Sarkozy will be accompanied by his wife, Carla, seven ministers and the heads of some 120 companies, underscoring the economic importance of relations between the two countries.

France is by far Tunisia's most important trading partner, with bilateral commerce reaching some 7 billion euros (10.94 billion dollars) in 2007.

A number of deals, worth about 2 billion euros, are expected to be finalized Monday evening, between Sarkozy's meeting with Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and a scheduled state dinner.

The contracts to be signed include the sale of Airbus aircraft to Tunisian carrier Tunisair and for the construction of a conventional power station by the French firm Alstom at Ghannouch, in southern Tunisia.

EADS unit Airbus has signed a firm order for the sale of 13 aircraft and an option for two others to Tunisian carrier Tunisair, the French presidency said in a statement.

Tunisia launches first religious radio station

Tunisia's first religious radio station started broadcasting on the first day of Ramadan, an attempt by the government to give a platform to moderate Muslims and to keep Islamists at bay. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali announced the launching of the first radio with a religious vocation in Tunisia.

This baptized radio “Ezzeitouna” (Olive Tree) –an eponym of a prestigious mosque and a religious institution in the old Medina of Tunis--, will emit during 24 hours the tape FM and will cover 80% of the national territory.

The launching of this third private radio in Tunisia, where Islam is the religion of State, emanates in particular from the concern of the government to encourage the enlightened spirits and diffuse the authentic values of Islam, notably tolerance, mutual aid and moderation.