Tunisia: Ennahda party wins in municipal elections May 6 /update 2

Event

The Islamist Ennahda party claimed victory in the Tunisian municipal elections held on Sunday, May 6. The elections saw low turnout, with only 33.7 percent of eligible Tunisians voting in the elections, according to the country's election commission.

Notably, the election commission decided to halt voting at eight voting centers in Mdhila district (Gafsa province) and postpone it to a later date amid irregularities reported with voting papers and election-related clashes in several parts of the district on Sunday; protesters reportedly raided voting centers and destroyed ballot boxes in several areas. Additional demonstrations, clashes between protesters and police, and consequent heightened security measures and localized traffic disruptions are possible in Tunisia in the coming hours and days.

Context

In 2011 Tunisia's municipal councils were dissolved and replaced by provisional "special delegations." Municipal elections to replace the special delegations were originally scheduled for October 30, 2016, but were postponed several times, due in part to disputes over the composition of the country's electoral commission.

Advice

Individuals in Tunisia are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.