Tunisians and the world were on the edge of their seats as the election results on October 25, 2009, took longer than last time to be reported. Was this a sign that the election was going to be closer than in 2004? A nail-bitter, some thought. After all, Ben Ali was elected with 99% of the vote in ‘89, ‘94, ‘99 and then in 2004 managed to remain in office after winning a bare majority victory of just 95%. Clearly, his popularity has taken a massive beating and some Tunisians doubted whether he could hang on to a fifth term. America’s Roosevelt got his fourth term because he was charismatic while Ben Ali’s hair is adored for its almost-divine blackness at the age of 73 (he swears he has never dyed it once), the president could afford to be a little more humorous at times. But then that always charming wife Leila Ben Ali fills the gap.

And this election year was arduous. The President had to suffer such cruel attacks from opponents. Some really were just beyond the pale. But then the polls were finally announced and Ben Ali was reelected for a fifth term with a sliver margin of victory of 90%. Tunisians were happy to see their president returned to office but stunned at the closeness of the race.

“It really was frightening there for a moment. And then the 90% victory. Ben Ali’s party needs to do more to combat opposition criticism. I mean, they just let the opposition tear them apart no wonder he only got 90%,” stated Ben Ali supporter Wald la-Haram.

Kalab Saqqat, professor of politics at Tunis University and another Ben Ali supporter stated that the low victory margin probably means that Ben Ali will not seek - “sadly,” he stated - a sixth term. “But then his wife is there to lead the party just like in Venezuela,” he added referring to the political ambitious (and one should add classy and elegant) Leila.

Ben Ali was humble in his victory speech and stated that he would reach out to the opposition: “I will reach out to every Tunisian, and I will personally see to it that every opposition candidate and every Tunisian who voted against me will receive a special visit from party officials,” he stated to thunderous applause as Ben Ali supporters cheered in front of the spotlighted Zine under the Mediterranean night sky.

Tunisia had seen another peaceful transition of power between Ben Ali to Ben Ali. And as American pundits are always fond of noting, a peaceful election is actually quite uncommon in the world and a sign of American (and one could add Tunisian) specialness.