But it has not produced a winner to succeed the late President Bejii Caid Essebsi.

Voters will be back for  run-off by early November.

Tunisia has retained its status as a democratic model in a troubled part of the world.

Both headed for elections, Tunisia’s larger neighbours Algeria and Libya  would like to have some of that orderliness rub off.

Much depends on whether the final winner – which looks like a contest between television mogul Nabil Karoui and law professor Kaïs Saïed – is able to get to grips with the economic stagnation and unemployment that are preventing Tunisians from enjoying the fruits of their hard-won democracy.

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