Beji Caid Essebsi to be Tunisia's new president

Tunisia's election board (ISIE) announced Beji Caid Essebsi as the new president of the country after coming out with the final results of the 2014 presidential runoff elections Monday.

The Nidaa Tounes candidate Essebsi has won the second round of the presidential elections with 55,68 percent of the votes (1,731, 529), which makes him the fifth president of Tunisia, Xinhua reported, citing the head of the ISIE, Chafik Sarsar.

Moncef Marzouki, the second candidate and the current president, received 44,32 percent of the votes (1,378, 513).

The preliminary results were announced Dec 22, and a week was given for potential appeals to be processed by the administrative court.

Moncef Marzouki conceded defeat on the day of the preliminary results and has not appealed against the results.

However, the administrative court received two appeal requests during the past week from citizens. The administrative court rejected the complaints.

An official ceremony will be held at an exceptional plenary session of the newly elected parliament Wednesday, where Essebsi will take oath.

He will be declared president at the Carthage Presidential Palace later the same day. He will be president for the next five years.