And compete in these elections, especially Mohammed Moncef Marzouki president outgoing, and Beji Caid Essebsi founder and president of Tunis Appeal Party winner of legislative elections held in October 26 last.

This is the first free and multi-party elections in the history of Tunisia, which ruled since independence from France in 1956 and for more than half a century, are the only two presidents Habib Bourguiba (1987-1956), Ben Ali (2011-1987).

Mahdi said Juma, Chairman of non-partisan government, which leads Tunisia since the beginning of 2014 until the general election, "This is a historic day, it was the first presidential election in Tunisia advanced democratic standards."

He told reporters after his release from a polling station in Tunis, "the presidential election is the stage of completion of the democratic system based on free choice."

He called Mehdi Juma Tunisia's youth to participate "heavily (in the presidential election) to choose their own future," saying "We must decide to watch and to be held accountable."

The participation rates of young people "frustrating" of politics and politicians, according to sociologists, weak in the last legislative elections.

And was invited to the presidential elections, about 5.3 million voters, including 389 thousand reside abroad and distributed to 43 countries.

And conducted operations in Tunisia vote within 11 thousand polling stations, and continue from eight o'clock (7:00 GMT) until 18:00 pm (1700 GMT).

The Tunisians living abroad began voting since last Friday.

Authorities deployed tens of thousands of military and police personnel to secure polling stations.

And compete in the presidential elections 27 candidates, including one woman who is the judge Kalthoum Lucknow.

Despite the withdrawal of the five candidates, the Election Commission has kept their names in the voting cards because they withdrew "after the proper time" after legal and print cards and distribution, as announced, "the Independent High Electoral Commission."

Beji Caid Essebsi is (87 years), the logical candidate to win the presidential election.

The commander of the veteran politician Essebsi filled important ministerial portfolios Caldakhlah and external in the era of the late President Habib Bourguiba. It also took over the presidency of the parliament between 1990 and 1991 during the reign of Ben Ali.

Caid Essebsi said after placing the voting card in the box one of the polling stations in the capital, Tunis, "Long live Tunisia," which his campaign slogan.

He hopes this political in that facilitates the task of winning his party in a coalition government.

He received the call Tunisia on 86 seats of the total 217 seats in the new parliament.

The majority party does not have the (109 seats), which enables it to rule alone.

Caid Essebsi and compete in the presidential election with outgoing President Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, and Hamma Hammami, leader of the Popular Front (a coalition of more than 10 radical leftist parties) and Slim Riahi wealthy businessman and president of Club Africain (Tunisia) football.

"Ennahda" Islamic Party, which ruled Tunisia from 2011 to the beginning of the end of 2014 was second in the legislative elections, winning 69 seats in parliament and did not submit a candidate for the presidential elections.

Ennahda says it supports the opponents are "undeclared" independent candidate Mohamed Moncef Marzouki, which is denied by the movement.

In the event that for any of the candidates on the "absolute majority" of the votes or 50 percent plus one, electoral cycle again take place no later than December 31 next, only Almitrhhan laureates participate on the first and second place in the first session, according to the law election.

This law says that in the event of a number of candidates equal to the percentage of the vote in the first round, "is not to provide the greatest candidate, or permit beating if equality in the second session."

According to this law, must, "the Independent Electoral Commission for the elections," the Declaration of the preliminary results of the presidential elections no later than three days after the closure of the post office to vote.

The Commission announced that it "will seek to shorten the term to two days."

Authority media and prevented from publishing the results of the presidential election based on the results of the polls conducted by local institutions to gather opinions.

Presidential election and will end a transitional phase lasted for about 4 years in Tunisia.

The "National Constituent Assembly" in charge of drafting a new constitution for Tunisia, and emanating from the October 23 / October 2011 elections, Mohamed Moncef Marzouki was elected president "temporarily" for the country.

And will judge the new president of Tunisia for a term of five years, renewable once under the new Tunisian constitution, which was approved by the Constituent Assembly early 2014.

Constitution not only limited powers to the head of state but gives suffrage gives him considerable political weight. The president also has the right to dissolve parliament if the government did not get that exposure to it twice in a row on trust.

In 2013 broke out in Tunisia severe political crisis after two secular opposition leaders assassination and the killing of dozens of army and security forces in attacks authorities attributed to Islamic extremists.

And forced the government, which was led by Ennahda to resign early in 2014 and left the place for a non-partisan government to pull the country out of political crisis.

Tunisia is an exception in the countries of the "Arab Spring," most of which fell into violence and chaos.