24 October 2011
TUNIS, Oct 24 (Xinhua) – Heads of European observer delegations Monday hailed the election of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) in Tunisia as free and fair.
"The elections were free and observers did not witness any widespread or systematic irregularities," said Riccardo Migliori, leader of the observer delegation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
"The low-key and generally peaceful campaign period was described by all observers as normal. All competitors were treated on the basis of strict equality," said Migliori, calling on all Tunisian parties to accept election results which are supposed to come out Monday.
Meanwhile, Andreas Gross who is leading the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) also congratulated all Tunisian people for a successful election.
Gross said "this free and equal election set a good foundation" for Tunisia, adding that "minor defects are nothing compared to this strictly ordered and peaceful election."
The Higher Independent Election Committee has done a great job, Gross said.
According to him, around 110 observers form the OSCE and PACE took part in the observation of Tunisia's historic elections, the first one after the toppling of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali early this year.
The voting, which started at 7 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) and proceeded until 7 p.m. (1800 GMT) Sunday, was meant to elect a 217- member constituent assembly tasked with drafting a new constitution and paving the way for legislative and presidential elections within 12 months.
