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TUNISIAN ELECTIONS

Exit polls give Saied landslide victory in Tunisian runoff

Exit polls suggest that conservative academic Kais Saied, a political outsider, is headed for a landslide victory in Tunisia's presidential runoff, sweeping aside the challenge of media magnate Nabil Karoui.

Crowds gather in the centre of Tunis to celebrate the probable victory of Kais Saied, 13 October 2019.
Crowds gather in the centre of Tunis to celebrate the probable victory of Kais Saied, 13 October 2019. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
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With official results not expected until later Monday, two separate exit polls give Kais Saied a huge margin.

According to one independent tally, independent candidate Saied scooped 72.5 percent of the vote; another poll gave him nearly 77 percent, more than 40 points ahead of Karoui.

Thousands of people took to the streets of the capital Tunis to celebrate Saied's victory, honking horns and singing the national anthem.

In his first reaction, Saied thanked the country's young people "for turning a new page," and vowed to try to build "a new Tunisia".

Around 90 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds voted for Saied, according to estimates by the Sigma polling institute, compared with 49.2 percent of voters over 60.

The poll, Tunisia's second free presidential election since the 2011 revolt, followed the death of president Beji Caid Essebsi in July. Turnout was higher than in the first round, and estimated at around 57 percent.

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