Dec 21, 2014 08:09 AM EST
Tunisians Getting Ready For Their Landmark Election

After a four year struggle against dictatorship, Tunisians can at last exercise their right to vote. The country's history free election will leave a landmark in the country's ultimate struggle with its past leaders.

The two aspiring leaders vying for supreme executive power of Tunisia are 88 year old Beji Caid Essebi running under the Nidaa Tounes flag and his opponent under the Islamist movement Ennahda is the current incumbent official Moncef Marzouki. This second rount vote sets Tunisia completely apart in the turmoil that has swept Arab countries for quite some time now

This election will mark the country's first ever free election since its independence from France in 1956. Tensions are high between supporters of the two presidential aspirants. To add pressure to the situation the main border to war torn Libya have been totally closed to avoid clashes between the two territories.

The first round of the poll was held last nov 23 and Essebsi came out on top with 39 percent of the vote edging out Marzouki by nearly six percent. Moncef Marzouki is a former civil rights activist that saw his ascension to office after he was installed by the parliament after the Dec 2011 election.

Beji Caid Essibi is the more popular of the two candidates. This is due to the fact that his Nidaa Tounes party won the parliamentary election last Oct thus giving him an edge over his opponent. The tide of battle however is in constant change because of the constitutional amendment added to the constitution in order to guard the country for another dictatorship regime.

This election however has been marked by defamation especially when Essebsi declining the debate challenge of Marzouki calling him an "extremist."

A video posted over the internet however, have mired the countries already anxious voters. On the video armed men claims the murder of two secular politician last 2013, an act that plunged the country into deep internal crisis.

The final results of the vote will be announced between Dec 22 and 24.

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