Tunisia holds 1st legislative polls since parliament’s dissolution

A Tunisian voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Kasserine on Dec17, 2022, during the parliamentary election. (HATEM SALHI / AFP)

TUNIS – Tunisia held on Saturday the first parliamentary elections since President Kais Saied disbanded the legislative body in March.

At 8 am local time (0700 GMT), Tunisians began casting ballots at 4,551 voting centers and 11,310 polling stations across the North African country.

A total of 1,058 candidates competed in the elections for the 161 seats in the parliament

Polls closed at 6 pm (1700 GMT) and the preliminary results will be announced between Sunday and Tuesday.

A total of 1,058 candidates competed in the elections for the 161 seats in the parliament.

READ MORE: New Tunisia constitution passed in vote with low turnout

Saied suspended the Tunisian parliament and sacked the government in July 2021, before dissolving the legislative body on March 30 this year.