TUNIS, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Independent candidates surprisingly came out on top of Tunisia's first municipal election since 2011 revolution, garnering nearly one-third of the vote.
The victory, described by some analysts as paradoxically logical and unexpected, did not hide the relative dominance of two main parties of the Tunisian political landscape, namely the party Nidaa Tounes and the Islamist party Ennahda.
With a turnout rate of 35.6 percent, 1,802,695 voters were present at the polls, in the 350 constituencies, out of a total of 5,369,862 voters.
"In democratic countries around the world, municipal elections are experiencing a certain wave of voter abstention, even in the European Parliament", commented Hatem Mrad, an academic specializing in politics.
Other Tunisian analysts believe local elections reflect the general mood of Tunisians, as the country's socio-economic and financial situation deteriorated. Inflation rate is close to 8 percent, and the unemployment rate exceeds 15.5 percent.
"This is a historic step for Tunisia in the consolidation of democratic gains," said Fabio Massimo Castaldo, vice-president of European Parliament and head of EU Election Observation Mission.
"The first municipal election since the 2011 revolution was considered credible, despite the low participation, especially of young people," Castaldo said.
Nizar Makni, a Tunisian observer for municipal elections, told Xinhua that this low participation rate reflects "the mismanagement of the two poles in the power of State affairs, namely the party Nidaa Tounes and the Islamist party Ennahda."
With almost a third of the votes against the two political "giants," the independents "constituted a third alternative for Tunisians that could realize their wishes," added Makni.
"This time Tunisians voted, by giving confidence to candidates who are close to their local circle and who could meet the local citizens' needs," said Makni.
On the other hand, he concluded, "this surprising rise of independents may also manifest some punishment, even a popular trial for the entire political class of the country."
"The map of the independents is likely to be a new political tactic used by the two parties in power to win the crowd and get to the citizen as close as possible through the seats of municipal councils," he added.
After the preliminary results of municipal elections, some local analysts believe that Tunisia is preparing for a more sensitive economic and socio-economic situation.
Leaders will have to improve performance, as well as deal with appeals including wage increases, regional development claims, and solutions to the country's economic slowdown.
