Tunisia's new low-profile president defies definition

TUNIS, Tunisia — Kais Saied, a low-key candidate with zero political office experience, secured an overwhelming 72.7% of the votes in this month's election to become Tunisia's sixth president. He was sworn in Oct. 23 before parliament, pledging to preserve the foundations of the state, uphold the law, preserve freedoms and promote women's rights in particular.

Since he declared victory in the second round of the presidential election Oct. 13, people have been speculating about what to expect. Saied, 61, is a former law professor who has never held office and is not affiliated with any specific political party; he ran as an independent candidate. The man's expression, when he has one, has been described as stolid, his profile as plain. He's been nicknamed "RoboCop." Yet he won over the country's youth. His supporters come from diverse circles.

Saied has expressed his positions on some controversial issues that divide Tunisian society. He supports the death penalty, criminalization of homosexuality and decentralized government. He has particularly supported women's rights and the need to improve their working conditions, gender equality and economic justice between men and women. However, he rejects a legislative initiative submitted by the late President Beji Caid Essebsi (who died in July still in office) on equality in inheritance, stating that this issue is already addressed by a Quranic text that is not subject to interpretation.

Radia al-Jarbi, head of the National Union of Tunisian Women rights group, told Tunisian newspaper Al-Chourouk that Saied had promised her in a phone call that he will strive to consolidate the gains achieved by women and to enforce all laws guaranteeing their rights.