Initial results of Tunisian parliamentary elections show that Tunisian secular party Nidaa Tounes and Islamist party Ennahda take lead in the polls as expected, Kamel Toujani, spokesman for Independent Higher Authority for the Elections (ISIE), said. "The partial results of all constituencies will be announced later on and vote counting will be finalized earlier than the scheduled time," he said, adding officials results will be announced on November 24 after giving opinions in appeals submitted by political parties.
Toujani pointed out that the turnout - based on the partial figures - reached 61.8 percent inside the country and 29 percent abroad, indicating Tunisians participated in the first legislative elections according to the 2014 Constitution.
He added these elections are very significant as both parliament and government, based on the 2014 constitution, are granted wider powers, yet the president has limited ones.