Tunisia’s two main presidential candidates are expected to go head to head in a second round a run off following Sunday’s landmark election.<br /><br />It would be the final step to full democracy after a revolution ousted authoritarian President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali three years ago.<br /><br />The frontrunner is 87-year-old former government official Beji Caid Essebsi with one exit poll giving him a big lead.<br /><br />“Mr Baji Caid Essebsi, according to preliminary results is the first in the race, with a significant gap ahead of the second rival,” said Essebsi’s campaign manager. “And we want to thank the Tunisian people for their confidence.”<br /><br />Essebsi’s rival, incumbent president Moncef Marzouki, believes he also has a lead.<br /><br />In his hometown there were demonstrations against him. Around 200 people chanted, “leave Marzouuki leave.” <br /><br />The Tunisian revolution was the first of the Arab Spring uprisings that followed in Libya, Egypt and Yemen.<br /><br />“People in the Arab world will watch Tunisia as a laboratory,” said political analyst Hammadi Rdissim. “We can do it, it’s not a myth, it can be a reality, and elections and democracy are possible in an Islamic country.”<br /><br />As Tunisian picks their first directly elected president, many hope the North African nation will put years of demonstrations, political assassinations and rising terrorism firmly in the past.<br /><br />The second round vote is expected to take place at the end of December.
