Union strike action could strengthen opposition to regime s growing authoritarianism but outsiders steer clear, The scale of the backlash by voters, just 8.8% of whom turned out in Saturday s parliamentary elections, according to Tunisia s electoral commission, is a major blow to President Kaïs Saïed s credibility. With most of the main political parties boycotting the elections, a low turnout was highly likely. The scale of it will come as a surprise although Saïed has made no secret of his disdain for parliamentary democracy.