Tunisia's presidential candidates will need allies

Significance

Two independent candidates will contest the second round: Kais Saied, a constitutional lawyer, who garnered 18.4% of the vote and Nabil Karoui, a media mogul currently imprisoned on money laundering and tax evasion charges, with 15.6%. The election results are a rebuke to the main political parties that have dominated politics over recent years but failed to improve the economy. Not only did the candidates of the three main parties (Islamist-inspired Ennahda, and secularist Nidaa Tounes and Tahya Tounes) fail to reach the second round, long-standing opposition parties also failed to attract disillusioned voters.

Impacts

• Both candidates will support Tunisia’s democratic achievements, even if they themselves are no revolutionaries.
• Saied has no party connections and could find himself isolated if elected.
• Karoui can count on some Nidaa Tounes support.
• Either president would be constrained in the likely event of an unfriendly parliament.