Iran commends successful presidential election in Tunisia

Iran has commended the first successful free presidential election in Tunisia since the country’s independence from France in 1956.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham on Monday congratulated the Tunisian government and nation over the successfully held presidential election and the consolidation of the democratic process, which she said are the important achievements of the Tunisian revolution.

Tunisia’s electoral commission on Monday declared veteran politician Beji Caid Essebsi as the winner of the country’s presidential election.

The 88-year-old, from the Nidaa Tounes secular political party, garnered 55.68 percent of the votes to overcome incumbent Moncef Marzouki, who collected 44.32 percent of the ballots, in the Sunday run-off.

The first round of the presidential vote on November 23 saw Essebsi in the lead with 39 percent of the vote, six points ahead of Marzouki.

Essebsi served as the prime minister of Tunisia from February 2011 to December that year under former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was toppled in a 2011 popular uprising.

He served as minister of foreign affairs from 1981 to 1986.

Sebsi, a French- educated lawyer, will take office, probably in the few weeks.