Tunisia’s moderate Islamist party, Ennahda, has conceded defeat to its secular rival, Nidaa Tunis, in the country’s first constitutionally backed elections since its 2011 uprising.

“We have accepted this result and congratulate the winner Nidaa Tunis,” Ennahda official, Lotfi Zitoun told Reuters, after preliminary results were announced.

Nidaa Tunis has won 83 seats, 38 per cent of the total 217 seats available, according to the preliminary results released on 27 October.

Ennahda is in second place with 68 seats.

Ennahda dominated the 2011 constituent assembly, winning 89 seats, 60 more than its nearest rival, but it has since been blamed by many for the country’s post-revolutionary economic mismanagement.

Nidaa Tunis, Ennahda’s secular rival includes several high-profile officials from the regime that was toppled in the 2011 uprising.