Summary:

On 4 February 2024, the second round of run-off local council elections were held across Tunisia, with voter participation marked at 12.44%. 

The turnout for the run-off local council elections were slightly higher than the turnout recorded for the first round of local council elections held in late December 2023, which reached 11.66%. 

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The run-off elections function to resolve elections at the local level that were not initially decided in the first round for a number of reasons, including one candidate failing to achieve a majority. 

Commentators asserted that the low turnout continues to confirm a lack of political interest from the Tunisian population. 

Outlook: 

Political apathy persists in Tunisia, reflecting a growing disillusionment with the post-revolutionary era. The consistently low voter turnout for elections at all levels not only suggests a diminishing tolerance for President Saied’s reform agenda but also underscores a pervasive lack of confidence among Tunisians in the government’s ability to effectively address critical issues, with the economy being paramount. 

As persistent shortages effect consumers amidst escalating prices, Tunisians are likely to grow increasingly impatient for tangible outcomes from the government, particular on economic issues.  

This impatience poses the potential to manifest as civil unrest and demonstrations should the government prove incapable of ensuring a stable supply of essential commodities like flour, milk, sugar, and fuel—each of which has encountered recent disruptions. 

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