Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda Party came first in Sunday's parliamentary election, winning 52 seats, while media mogul Nabil Karoui's Heart of Tunisia party won only 38 seats in the 217-seat chamber, the electoral commission said on Wednesday.
The official preliminary results are in line with an exit poll published on Sunday which showed Ennahda as the largest party and Heart of Tunisia in second place in a fragmented parliament.
Ennhada and Heart of Tunisia Party have to work hard to avoid going to a second poll in six months. They also have a chance to form an alliance, according to observers.
The Ennahdha Party, also known as Renaissance Party, is a self-defined "Muslim democratic" political party in Tunisia. Founded as "The Movement of Islamic Tendency" in 1981.
Ennahdha was inspired by the Iranian revolution and Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.
Rached Ghannouchi is the movement's founder and has remained its president for 38 years without interruption.
In 2014 polls, Ennahda came second to a secular coalition which has since fallen apart.
Ennahda Blamed for Tunisia's Ailing Conditions
Ennahda has been a member of several governing coalitions since Tunisia’s 2011 revolution that have failed to improve living standards or public services in the young democracy.
Heart of Tunisia leader Hatem Al Maliki reaffirmed that his party will not enter a coalition with Ennahda.
In a ration show conversation, Maliki blamed Ennahda for the country’s ailing political, economic and social deteriorating conditions.
Karoui, who was released from pre-trial detention in a corruption case on Wednesday, is also a candidate in Sunday’s presidential election; he will face an independent, Kais Saied, who is backed by Ennahda.
The Islamist party needs 109 seats to form a majority, so Ennahda is forced to find political alliances to avoid going into elections again.
Sunday’s vote was the third free parliamentary election in Tunisia since the 2011 revolution. But preliminary turnout figures showed only 41% of registered voters cast their ballots.
The winner on Sunday will be appointed for a five-year term. Tunisia's president has control over defense, foreign policy and national security. The prime minister, chosen by parliament, is responsible for other portfolios.
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