News & Views

Supporters of the al-Nahda party have gathered outside the party's headquarters in the Tunisian capital to celebrate what they are calling a victory in the country's historic elections, as the first official results show the moderate Islamist party in the lead in many districts. With 87 seats of the 217-seat constituent assembly announced on Tuesday, al-Nahda had won 37 seats. The Congress Party for the Republic (CPR) had 14, Aridha Chaabia 11, Ettakatol 10 and the Progressive Democratic Party five seats. Al-Nahda supporters celebrated with fireworks, drums and singing after the Tunisian electoral body (ISIE by its French acronym) began to deliver the first provisional results for the electorates inside the country, following Sunday's vote. The crowd chanted "The people are Muslim", "We will not surrender", and "No to atheism".