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New Tunisia president to be sworn in

Beji Caid El-Sebsi, 88, is the first president in the modern history of the country elected at general democratic election after previous president was toppled during the Jasmine Revolution

TUNIS, December 31. /TASS/. Newly-elected President Beji Caid El-Sebsi will be inaugurated in Tunisia, the northernmost country in Africa, on Wednesday. The 88-year-old politician is the first president in the modern history of the country elected at general democratic election on December 21 after previous President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was toppled during the Jasmine Revolution on January 14, 2011.

So, Tunisia is making a political U-turn, as after a triumphant coming to power of the Islamist Ennahda party amid a public upsurge of the Arab Spring Tunisians preferred again to give the reins of power to secular politicians. On October 23, parliamentary election was held in the country, and a secular party Nidaa Tounes led by El-Sebsi has won the polls.