UNITED NATIONS, November 25 (Sputnik) — After the first round of the presidential election in Tunisia, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated the Tunisian people on the first post-revolution presidential election.
The Secretary-General said he “extends his congratulations to the Tunisian people on the occasion of the country’s first democratic presidential election since the 2011 revolution.”
“The polls, conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner, mark an important step forward for the country's political transition process,” Ban Ki-moon said.
A run-off, scheduled for December 28, will be held between the top two finishers in the first round, incumbent Moncef Marzouki and former Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi.
The UN on Monday said Ban “commends the work of the High Independent Authority for Elections (ISIE) and their continued efforts in completing the process, and reaffirms that the United Nations will continue to support the consolidation of the democratic process in Tunisia.”
In the course of the Tunisian revolution in 2011, also known as the Jasmine revolution, the then-president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was ousted. Marzouki has served as interim leader in the country.
The revolution was triggered by poor social and economic situation in Tunisia, as well as lack of democratic rights and freedoms.
